[1]. See Dollar’s “A Surgical Operating Table for the Horse.” (London: Gay and Bird.)
HYGROMA OF THE HAUNCH.
With the exception of hygroma of the knee, hygromas are commoner on hind than on front limbs. That of the haunch is limited to the external angle of the ilium. It follows violent falls or collisions with door posts, and results from laceration of the layers of subcutaneous connective tissue and separation of the skin from subjacent parts.
The effusion is often of a sero-sanguinolent character. It is more frequent in animals occupying narrow or irregularly shaped stalls, the hygroma being developed through repeated collision of the angle of the haunch with the wall. Finally, it may follow prolonged decubitus.
Diagnosis is easy, but the prognosis has a certain element of gravity, because, should suppuration occur, it may be succeeded by necrosis of the aponeurosis inserted into the external angle of the ilium.
Treatment should first be directed to removing the cause. Of the various modes of intervention, the best probably consists in disinfecting the parts, puncturing the swelling, and injecting some irritant of an antiseptic character, or simply washing out the cavity. Iodine and carbolic solutions are most commonly employed. Firing is contra-indicated.
HYGROMA OF THE TROCHANTER OF THE FEMUR.
This condition is rare, except in thin milch cows kept under bad hygienic conditions and insufficiently supplied with bedding. Continual bruising of the prominences of the quarters whilst the animal is lying is the usual cause.
This hygroma forms a hemispherical swelling covering the trochanteric prominence. Movement is interfered with, and the stride is shortened.
The condition can only be confused with the diffuse swellings due to periarthritis in the coxo-femoral region, which frequently occur in cows suffering from infectious pseudo-rheumatism.