COMMON DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS.
Of the joints of the foro extremity which are likely to suffer from injury, the knee is the most important, because, while scars on other parts of the limbs niisy be explained away or condoned, any kind of mark which may bo classed as a broken knee is ruinous to tho horse's character, and it is all in vain that tho intending buyer is assured that the injury was caused by the animal knocking the knee against the manger or the top bar. of a gate. Perhaps, on the whole, the superstitious objection to a marked degree is wholesome and justifiable, although it is certainly true that knees are sometimes damaged in other ways than by a fall. There is no doubt, however, that most marked knees might be correctly referred to a tumble, and, when both knees are scarred, the most imaginative person would hardly venture to suggest any other cause. Broken knees are always a serious matter from the commercial standpoint, but they vary much in importance in their surgical aspect ; in fact, the injury may assume any degree, from an abrasion which removes a small patch of hair and a thin layer of cuticle, to an extensive lacerated and contused wound, associated with open joint, rendering the animal useless for anything above the grade of a night cab horse, even if he escapes immediate slaughter, or a more painful death from tetanus (lockjaw). Between tho two extremes of injury there is an average form of broken knee, in which tho. skin is cut through and a portion torn away. The wound presents some rugged edges, mid a zone of skin is more or less damaged ; but the tendons, ligaments, and bones of the knee joint; are not injured, and the chief anxiety is not as to tho ultimate healing of the wound, but; rather relates to the extent of blemish which will be left when the process is completed ; and the art of the veterinary surgeon is exhibited in the means which he adopts during' the euro to keep the edges of the wound as close together as possible, to prevent the excessive growth of granulations, which check the extension of new skin from the circumference of the wound.
In tho treatment of broken knees there is nothing special. The mnulito which art*
applicable to any contused wound are proper in such cases. First, the greatest care should be taken to remove, by washing with a stream of cold water, all dirt and gritty matter, the presence of which will certainly set up irritation, and render healing by first intention impossible.
If the blow inflicted on the knee was very severe the consequent inflammation will be sufficient to prevent prompt healing ; but in any case where there is not ar?y swelling or heat in the joint, the use of warm fomentations and poultices is not admissible. A little antiseptic cotton wool, with a light antiseptic gauze bandage will be all that is required. An important point in the treatment of wounds of the knee is the proper adjustment of the joint. If the horse is allowed to keep the leg fiexed, the structures in front of the knee are kept on the stretch, and the result is that a distinct projection exists in front when the leg is straightened. This may be avoided by keeping the limb in a straight position from the first by the use of a light stiff splint, kept in place by a bandage above and below the joint. When the animal does not show any inclination to Ilex the knee the use of splints is not necessary. In cases of very severe injury to the structures forming the knee joint, where there is no chance of healing by the process of adhesion, and where considerable sloughing is inevitable, the immediate question, from the economical point of view is, Can anything be done to render the horse serviceable? And from experience it may be said that, setting on one side the remote! risk of lockjaw, the worst forms of broken knee may be so far cured that the horse may be restored to usefulness ; but counting the cost of treatment and keep for, say, three months, it is doubtful if it is worth while to save a hopelessly blemished animal merely for the purpose of selling it ; and the owner may make up his mind at once that incases of extensive injury to the knee joint he will never ride or drive the horse himself. Unless therefore the animal has a special value for breeding purposes, it is best to have him at once destroyed, and so escape all the anuoyance of a long course of treatment ending in disappointment. Injury to the elbow is often inflicted by the heels of the fore shoes, and it is rather remarkable that the shortening of the heels as far as possible docs not, in many cases, correct the evil. The presumption, therefore, is that horses which puffer from this form of injury lie ■with their fore feet in such a position that the heels of the shoe, whether they are long or short, are in contact with the back of the elbowjoint.
For some time the effects of the pressure of the heels of the fore shoes on the elbow are so slight that they do not attract much notice. From time to time it is seen that the joint is slightly swollen in the morning. The swelling subsides during the day, .and, as no lameness is induced, no attention is paid to the injury, nor is any attempt made to discover the cause. After some time a small, hard lump may be Felt under the skin, at the back of the elbow joint, and from this small beginning the tumour extends, Until it attains an enormous size, causing the animal a good deal of discomfort, besides presenting a very unsightly appearance. Various remedies are commonly used to check the growth of the tumour, i.e., cold lotions, blisters, and setons, but they do not generally succeed. Probably in many cases they increase the development of the morbid deposit by exciting continuous irritation. The only sure method of treatment is the removal of the tumour by dissection, and this operation is so simple, that it is difficult to understand why it is so often delayed until the size of the tumour makes it impossible to work the animal any longer.
As a means of preventing the formation of the tumour on 'the elbow, it is important, besides keeping the heels of the fore shoes as short as they can be made, to cover the back of the feet with some kind of pad. These precautions are particularly necessary after the operation of dissecting off the tumour shall have been performed. — Field.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 1977, 14 January 1892, Page 7
Word Count
1,140COMMON DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS. Otago Witness, Issue 1977, 14 January 1892, Page 7
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