550 
Translations and Reviews of Continental 
Veterinary Journals. 
By W. Ernes, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
Journal cles Veterinaires du Midi, June, 1861. 
LUXATION OF THE PATELLA TOWARDS THE INNER SIDE 
OF THE LIMB. 
By M. Perarnaud, V.S., Military Train. 
The subject of this affection was a mare of a sanguineo- 
nervous temperament, belonging to General Lasnon. She 
was in an advanced stage of gestation. The animal could 
not use the left hind leg, which was extended backwards; 
the patella could not be felt at its usual place, where, on the 
contrary, there was a deep depression; when made to walk, 
which was very painful, the animal dragged the limb behind 
her, at the same time carrying the head very low, so as to 
bring the weight on the fore legs. On examining the inside 
of the stifle the animal evinced great pain, though there was 
little or no sensation on the outside. Not being able to find 
the patella on the outside, the author thought, for the 
moment, it must be concealed in the mass of muscles. He 
was much puzzled in making his diagnosis. It could not be 
cramp, as the patella in these cases is forced to the outside. He 
examined the coxo-femoral articulation, but nothing abnormal 
could be detected there. On further examination, a hard 
body was discovered on the inside of the stifle, which on 
pressure caused the animal great pain; this was the patella. 
How to explain this abnormal displacement over the internal 
border of the astragalus, which is so much more elevated on 
the inside than on the out, could only be by admitting a 
malformation of the bone, a greater relaxation of the ligaments 
of the patella itself, and a greater rigidity of the extensor 
muscles, with a corresponding weakness of the flexors, or a 
violent effort in slipping, to which the advanced state -of 
gestation might have contributed. The reduction was not 
made without difficulty, and required three strong men 
besides the author, one to flex the leg, another to support the 
stifle, and the third to push the animal slightly to the right 
