INJURIES TO THE KNEE IN THE HORSE. 
541 
Injury or exposure of the fascia is also grave. The wound is then 
much deeper, and contains shreds of the injured fascia. In such cases 
healing is slow, though finally arrived at by proper treatment. Provided 
the sheaths of the extensor tendons are not laid open, and swelling and 
pain remain slight, recovery usually occurs, but exposure of the bursae 
constitutes a grave complication. Swelling becomes severe, and extends 
both upwards and downwards ; jelly-like synovia discharges from the 
wound, the limb is very painful when flexed, 
though weight may be placed on it, and in 
walking it may only be carried stiffly. 
Falls on sharp stones, or on rough, hard 
ground, may injure the extensor tendons, or 
even one of the three main divisions of the 
joint. Although the knee-joint is included in 
the category of “ indolent ” joints, i.e., such 
as only slightly resent mechanical injury, 
yet severe symptoms may follow such acci¬ 
dents. Pain is sometimes so excessive that 
weight can only he borne on the limb inter¬ 
mittently, sometimes not at all. The swell¬ 
ing extends over the whole joint, and often 
far beyond it, and is accompanied by fever. 
The finger or a probe can often be intro¬ 
duced into one or other of the joints, and in 
the later stages it may be possible to feel 
the articular surfaces, which are rough and 
denuded of cartilage. Sometimes crepita¬ 
tion can be detected when the joint is bent. 
Course. Provided the tendon sheaths are 
not affected, bruises disappear in from two 
to three weeks, though they often leave local 
thickening. Otherwise, and especially if the 
parts cannot be kept aseptic, recovery may extend over four to six 
weeks. Injuries to the joint may heal (with formation of exostoses), 
but generally produce so much disturbance and fever, and are followed 
by such obstinate lameness, that the animal is either killed or dies of 
septicaemia. 
The prognosis therefore depends chiefly on the extent of the injury. If 
the parts can be kept aseptic, which is seldom the case, there is, of 
course, a much greater chance of recovery, and blemishing is minimised. 
Treatment. Provided the injury is confined to the skin, it is sufficient 
to cleanse the abraded parts and smear them with some neutral fat like 
vaseline or zinc ointment. “ Capped knee,” when recent and of small 
