536 THE DISEASE:^ OF THE HOUSE 



from warmth and moisture continuously applied, since these conditions 

 favour absorption by giv'ing room to the vessels. 



If contimkd too long such treatment will result in the production of soft 

 and spongy granulations, but for the first few days there will be none to 

 contend with. In order to retain a poultice on the knee without tying the 

 tapes too tight either above or below it, a couple of bandages or a foundation 

 of tow should be wrapped round the leg below. A dose of aloes and a reduced 

 diet should be enforced, as there is much tendency to sympathetic fever in 

 serious injuries to joints, and as the animal cannot in such cases lie down, he 

 had better have his head tied up, since some horses will eat their poultices and 

 others will gnaw a wound, though the majority will not interfere with it. 

 When the reduction of pain and inflammatory symptoms warrant the 

 discontinuance of poultices, the knee may be carefully cleaned and a pad of 

 soft lint or calico dipped in carbolized oil, bandaged lightly over the 

 surface and renewed at least twice a day. With the appearance of healthy 

 granulations all covering may bo discontinued and the wound only dressed 

 with carbolized oil. Tlie evaporation that follows exposure, causes con- 

 traction in the direction desired, and the object to be studied is to so 

 treat the wound as to obtain only the minimum of blemish. Profuse 

 granulations threatening to rise above the level of the knee should be 

 lightly touched at the most prominent points with nitrate of silver (lunar 

 caustic), while the less vigorous growths in the depressions are making 

 progress towards a level surface, which, being attained, is made to form a 

 scab by an equal dressing all over with the caustic. If this scab is roughly 

 removed and the raw surface touched over again with the silver nitrate every 

 few days a smaller one is each time formed, and the edges of the skin made 

 to approximate much more closely than if left to nature. The " bumbley " 

 knees one often sees are quite unnecessary, for however badly a knee is 

 broken, it may be made level by good surgery. 



When the joint itself is opened the case is much more serious, and 

 there is a risk not only of a serious blemish, which can seldom be avoided, 

 but of a permanent stiffness of the leg, the mischief sometimes being suflS.- 

 cient to lead to constitutional fever, and the local inflammation going on to 

 the destruction of the joint by anchylosis. The treatment should be directed 

 to cleanse and then close the joint, the former object being carried out by 

 a careful ablution with warm water, and an antiseptic, as C: ndy's fluid, 

 continued until there is no doubt of all the dirt and grit having been 

 removed. Then, if there is only a veiy small opening in the capsular liga- 

 ment, it may be closed by a careful and light touch of a pointed iron 

 heated to a red heat. Generally, however, it is better to apply some dry 

 carded cotton to the wound, and a bandage over this, leaving all on for 

 four or five days, when it may be removed and i-e-applied. The horse 

 should be physicked, taking care to prevent all chance of his lying down by 

 racking him up. He will seldom attempt to do this on account of the 

 pain occasioned in bending the knee, but some animals will disregard this 

 when tired, and will go down, somehow. When the cotton is re-applied, 

 if there are granulations above the level of the skin, they must be kept 

 down as recommended in the last paragraph, and blister may be applied. 

 By these means a very extensive wound of the knee may be sometimes 

 cured, but it is doubtful whotlior the majority of open joint cases are 



