KNEE-CAP

or Patella, is the dise of bone placed in front of the knee-joint. Above it is attached to the muscles of the front of the thigh, and below by a tendon to the upper end of the shin-bone. Normally it moves over the joint whenever the muscles of the thigh by pulling on it move the shin-bone and so straighten the leg. Abnormally it may snap acro owing to the muscular pull from above, and to the leg being so fixed that it cannot straighten. Such a condition is termed /ractured patella, and is one of the accidents pereeny called “ putting the knee out.” It is very rare or the knee-cap to be broken by blows applied anew to it. The fracture is readily recognised, for the ys agment is drawn up and a Bap left between it and the lower one. The joint is rapidly distended with blood. A piece of board should be fixed to the back of the limb by handkerchiefs, placed at the ankle, just above and just below the knee and near the top of the thigh. The two lower limbs should then be fastened bi pend and the patient taken home, a bag of ice, if po ib y being rs over tho swollen knee. A doctor of course s immediately sent for.: [s. 381]