COMPLAINTS AND INJURIES OF THE KNEE. I 18 
greatly upon the treatment ot the wound in its early stages 
Caustic applications should invariably be avoided, as they 
ulways leave behind them a greater blemish. But should 
the mark left be of some extent, even without using caustic 
remedies, then the best way to render it less visible^ is 
to apply a mild blister to the part, which will stimulate the 
hair to shoot out more abundantly round the scar. We do 
not think there is much faith to be placed in the application 
of ointments, except they may be stimulating, in conse¬ 
quence of being generally composed of turpentine or Spanish 
flies. 
It is seldom a knee that has once been broken, is so 
healed as not to be perceptible, although in some cases the 
hurt has been so slight that it can hardly be detected. 
But even in the least visible of these the hair is always 
slightly curled, and where this is noticed, the leg should 
be taken up and the knee bent, when the scar, however 
slight, will be at once perceived. But we would not have 
it supposed that a broken knee is invariably an indication 
of a stumbling animal, because the best of horses have come 
down, by being backed by a bad rider, or placing his foot 
on a rolling stone on a road when going at a quick 
trot, or other cause. However, a broken knee once detected 
will put the purchaser upon his guard to watch minutely 
the action and paces of the horse, as well as the form of 
his fore-quarters; because, if his shoulder is thick and 
upright, and the legs placed far under him, then he is likely 
to have a bad action, and be apt not to lift his feet high 
enough to clear the ground properly. On the other hand. 
I knew one of the finest hunters that ever took the field 
with his knees broken, from his rider having forced him 
to a leap which it was impossible he could accomplish. If 
the shoulder is oblique and the withers high, with a strong, 
