698 
LHRONTC INFLAMMATION OF THE STIFLE-JOINT. 
(fig. 258) the movement stiffer, and the quarters more markedly sloping. In 
o°t i limbs the capsular ligament of the stifle-joint was prominent, being best 
defined below the patella (fig. 258). When resting, the hind legs were lifted 
alternately and strongly flexed, at short intervals ; the horse had not lain down 
tor a long time. In work, the hind limbs were carried stiffly and the stride 
shortened. The animal had become so useless that its owner caused it to be 
slaughtered. 
The post-mortem examination showed marked proliferation of connective 
tissue m the muscles of the quarter and thigh, the new growth appearing in 
the perimysium externum m the form of broad white bands (myositis chronica 
hbrosa). . There was chronic inflammation in the bursa glutmi radii, with great 
increase m the villi, which were 1 to 1* inch in length and A to A of an inch 
thick. 4 
The patellar joint was full of a yellow viscous fluid. The capsular ligament 
was distended, and the synovial membrane covered with long villous growths, 
in the true stifle-joint the articular cartilage had almost disappeared from the 
internal division, and scarcely a trace remained on the spine of the tibia 
lough numerous eburnated porcellaneous deposits were visible. The 
margins of the internal division of the joint, particularly the tibial margin 
chIno-e r ° mment thickened> The P atellar joint exhibited no particular 
VII —BURSITIS PRiEPATELLARIS. 
The bursa prsepatellaris, according to Eichbaum, occurs in fully half 
of all horses. It lies on the anterior surface of the stifle-joint, and 
when injured is apt to become inflamed ; the swelling, which is some¬ 
times fluctuating, sometimes moderately firm, attaining the size of 
two fists. It seldom produces pain or lameness, and only forms a 
blemish like “ capped elbow.” 
The disease being caused by bruises or other injuries, is sometimes 
accompanied by inflammatory symptoms, but sometimes occurs without 
them. Lameness is absent in the latter case, a fact to be remembered 
in diagnosing other diseased conditions. Should treatment be con¬ 
sidered necessary, fluctuating swellings (hygromata of the bursa) may 
repeatedly be punctured with the hollow needle, or with a slender trochar, 
and emptied of contents. Injection of iodine may also be tried. As 
m “capped elbow,” free incision leads to long-continued suppuration, 
and is therefore, not advisable, unless the bursa can be destroyed by 
cautery or caustic. Blisters and firing may produce gradual contraction, 
but require repeated application. Care must be taken not to incise a 
hydrops genu in mistake for enlargement of the prepatellar bursa. 
The hydrops swelling lies deeper, and cannot be so easily displaced 
under the skin as that now in question. 
