444 
W. L. WILLIAMS. 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
[Written Specially for the American Veterinary Review.] 
EXTREME LUXATION OF THE PATELLAE IN A FOAL. 
By W. L. Williams, V.S., New York State Veterinary College, Ithaca, N. Y. 
The subject, a filly of trotting breed, foaled May 27, 1897, 
was of good size and form, was able to stand and suck, and to 
the attendants appeared well. 
The umbilical cord was ligated with a coarse dirty string 
and the foal, with its dam, kept in a box stall. 
It remained apparently well until May 31, when the stifles 
became much swollen and the foal was unable to stand without 
assistance. 
At this time Dr. Genung was called and found it unable to 
get up on its hind legs, while the two anterior limbs appeared 
normal. Each stifle was found inflamed, hot, tender and much 
swollen. The temperature was somewhat abnormal, though a 
definite record was not kept; the pulse was accelerated, and the 
general signs of moderate fever were present. The remnant of 
the umbilical cord was still present, well dessicated, and the lig¬ 
ature applied at time of birth was in situ. No evidence of in¬ 
fection existed at the umbilicus. 
A diagnosis of umbilical infection was made and peroxide 
of hydrogen with salicylate of sodium administered internally 
and a stimulating liniment applied to the affected joints. 
With careful nursing and frequent assistance in reaching the 
dam’s teat the foal continued to thrive generally, though unable 
to stand erect, but could attain a crouching attitude, erect in 
front, with complete flexion of the femoro-tibial articulation. 
The general line of treatment was continued until July 2d, 
without material result; the dropsy of the joints had increased, 
and later with the subsidence of the inflammation had decreased 
and the synovial capsule had thickened. 
At this date Professor Eaw and the writer found the patient 
unable to extend the femoro-tibial articulations, nor could they 
