LUXATION AND SPRAIN OF THE STIFLE-JOINT. 
687 
dining life and removed after death, from the gluteal region, a cribriform 
plate of bone measuring 10 inches long, 7 wide, and at its thickest point 
i an inch thick. Properly speaking, this plate was double, and a space 
existed between the external and internal layers. Laquerriere saw and 
removed a plate of bone about 5 inches in length and 24 inches in 
breadth from the external crural region. The horse, which had pre¬ 
viously been lame, was at once cured. Cadiot saw ossification of the 
tendon of the semi-tendinosus muscle. The bony plate was triangular ; 
the base uppermost. It measured 6 inches in length by 8 in breadth, 
the point being embedded in the tendon of the semi-tendinosus muscle, 
(bee Cadiot and Dollar s “ Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Surgery,” 
p. 442.) 
DISEASES OF THE STIFLE-JOINT. 
Anatomy. The two divisions of the stifle-joint formed by the condyles of 
the femur, and the interarticular cartilages crowning the head of the tibia, often 
communicate with one another, whilst the patella femoral joint consists of a 
roomy cavity above and in front of the condyles of the femur, which Franck 
says always communicates with one, sometimes with both of the others. The 
tendon sheaths of the flexor metatarsi and extensor pedis also communicate 
with the external division of the stifle-joint. In the horse, a bursa known as 
the bursa prepatellaris, varying from the size of a bean to that of a walnut, is 
found on the anterior surface of the patella. 
I.—LUXATION AND SPRAIN OF THE STIFLE-JOINT. 
The stifle-joint has broad articular surfaces, and a powerful liga¬ 
mentous apparatus. Furthermore, it is surrounded on almost all 
sides by strong muscles and tendons, whilst the tibial spine projects 
upwards between the two condyles of the femur, and the relations 
of the two bones are so secured that in animals luxation of the joint 
is of excessively rare occurrence. Isolated cases have, however, been 
seen in cattle. 
Thus Stolze describes complete luxation of the tibia forwards. The cow 
was unable to advance the limb, which was rigid and somewhat shortened. 
It was still possible, however, to place weight on the leg, and the displace¬ 
ment of the bone could be detected by palpation of the stifle-joint. 
Deposition, though difficult, was finally effected, but luxation soon recurred, 
in spite of the animal being slung. After replacing the parts five times—an 
operation which appeared easier on each occasion—a blister was applied; the 
parts remained in position, and in three months the animal could move fairly 
well, and was able to return to grass. In the Jahresbericht for 1860 a similar 
case is described. 
Sprain of the stifle-joint may possibly occur from violent movements, 
but is certainly not common in large animals. Possibly the chronic 
inflammation of the stifle-joint (gonitis chronica) seen in dogs is due 
