436 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
comes one of grave tendencies. Whenever a punctured wound of a 
joint is noticed, even though apparently of but small moment, we should, 
without the least delay, apply a strong cantharides blister over the entire 
joint, being even careful to fill the orifice of the wound with the blister- 
ing ointment. This treatment is almost always effectual. It operates 
to perform a cure in two ways — first, the swelling of the skin and tissues 
underneath it completely closes round and prevents the ingress of air; 
second, by the superficial inflammation established it acts to check and 
abate all deep-seated inflammation. In the great majority of instances, if 
pursued soon after the accident, this treatment performs a cure in about 
one week, but should the changes described as occurring later in the joint 
have already taken place, we must then treat by cooling lotions and the 
application to the wound of chloride of zinc, 10 grains to the ounce of 
water, or a paste made up of flour and alum. A bandage is to hold these 
applications in place, which is only to be removed when swelling of the 
leg or increasing febrile symptoms demand it. In the treatment of open 
joints our chief aim must be to close the orifice as soon as possible. For 
this reason repeated probing or even injections are contraindicted. The 
only probing of an open joint that is to be sanctioned is on our first visit, 
when we should carefully examine the wound for foreign bodies or dirt, 
and after removing them the probe must not again be used. The medi- 
cines used to coagulate the synovial discharge are best simply applied 
to the surface of the wound, on pledgets of tow, and held in place by 
bandages. Internal treatment is also indicated in those cases of open 
joints where the suffering is great. At first we should administer a light 
physic and follow this up with sedatives and anodynes, as directed for 
contused wounds. Later, however, we should give quinine, or salicylic 
acid in 1 dram doses two or three times a day. 
WOUNDS OF THE TEIN^DGN SHEATHS, 
Wounds of tendon sheaths are similar to open joints in that there is 
an ascape of synovial fluid, "sinew water." Where the tendons are simply 
punctured by a thorn, nail, or fork, we must, after a thorough exploration 
of the wound for any remaining foreign substance, treat with the flour- 
and-alum paste, bandages, etc., as for open joint. Should the skin and 
tendons be divided the case is even more serious and often incurable. 
There is always a large bed of granulations (proud flesh) at the seat 
of injury, and a thickening more or less pronounced remains. When 
the back tendons of the leg are severed we should apply at once a high- 
heel shoe (which is to be gradually lowered as healing advances) and 
bandage firmly with a compress moistened with a 10-grain chloride of 
zinc solution. When proud flesh appears this is best kept under control 
by repeated applications of a red hot iron. Mares that are valuable as 
brood animals and stock horses should always be treated for this in- 
jury, as, even though blemished, their value is not seriously impaired. 
The length of time required and the expense of treatment will cause us 
to hesitate in attempting a cure, if the subject is old and comparatively 
valueless. 
