DISEASES OF THE HIP-JOINT. 
3:M 
The hip-joint is not only subject, like other joints, to strains of 
its connecting and capsular ligaments, but likewise to synovial 
inflammation from accidental injuries, &c., consequent ulceration of 
its cartilaginous surface, and extensive formation of matter, which, 
ulcerating its way out, may lie a long time imbedded under the 
mass of muscles surrounding the joint before it makes its way to 
the surface. 
Foals and calves are occasionally subject to scrofulous inflam¬ 
mation of their joints, generally in their hocks or stifles, but also 
in their hip-joint, more particularly foals, in which, when pus has 
formed, and ulcerated its way out, it generally wears them down by 
the great constitutional irritation set up, or else necessitates us to 
destroy them. In some foals I have seen large formations of mat¬ 
ter occur upon the sacro-sciatic ligament without being connected 
with the hip-joint. If an early incision is made through the glutaei 
muscles, and free exit given to the contained pus, the patient soon 
recovers. In others the formation of matter takes place within the 
joint, ulcerates its way out, and becomes lodged upon the dorsum 
of the hip-bone and the sacro-sciatic ligament, slowly ulcerating 
its way through the glutsei muscles; or it may take another direc¬ 
tion, and find its way into the rectum. 
In full-grown animals we seldom meet with the scrofulous affec¬ 
tion. The synovial inflammation in them is set up in consequence 
of violent strains, or being flung down, particularly in carts and 
carriages; and unless a very vigorous treatment is adopted early, 
it either terminates in perpetual lameness from anchylosis, &c., 
or the formation of matter, consequent ulceration, and, ultimately, 
loss of life. 
A case which came under my notice not long ago was in a cart¬ 
horse, which was strongly suspected by the owner to have been 
flung down in the cart by his servant. I did not see it until some 
months after the accident occurred. The animal was therefore 
much emaciated from pain and general irritation: the quarter was 
a great deal wasted, and, when it was moved along, there was to be 
perceived every now and then, by the hand and ear, a feeling and 
a noise as if the head of the femur chucked in and out of the 
acetabulum. 
Upon examination, I gave it as my opinion that either there was 
dislocation of the hip, or else a fracture of the neck of the thigh¬ 
bone, and that the animal had better be destroyed, which was ac¬ 
cordingly done. On making a post-mortem examination, I found 
a most extensive formation of matter in and around the joint, ex¬ 
tending itself up to the sacro-sciatic ligament. The ligamentum 
rotundum was ulcerated away from its attachments, the cartila¬ 
ginous surface of the acetabulum and head of the femur absorbed, 
