INFLAMED TENDINOUS SIIEATHS. 469 
afterwards of tincture of arnica, diluted with water, as a wash. Sub- 
cutaneous scarification has succeeded in some few cases in causing the 
secretion to cease; but it has so often produced extensive inflammation of 
the joint, that the operation is by no means to be recommended. Blister- 
ing with biniodide of mercury has also occasionally answered; but no 
plan is so successful, on the whole, as pressure, alternating with cold 
affusion. . 
DELICATE YOUNG FOALS are subject to a rheumatic inflammation of their 
synovial membranes, specially displayed in the knees and hocks, and 
apparently caused by exposure to cold. It seldom goes on to produce dis- 
organization of the cartilages, but the capsular ligaments are distended 
with thin yellow synovia, causing considerable stiffness. The cellular 
tissue around the joints also becomes cedematous, and the legs fill all the 
way down to the feet. It is commonly known among breeders as the 
‘joint evil,’ and though in itself it is not dangerous, yet it marks the 
existence of constitutional weakness which is likely to occasion some more 
fatal malady. The treatment should consist in attending to the general 
health by strengthening the mare, which is best done by giving her 
a drachm of the sulphate of iron in her corn twice a day. The joints of 
the foal should be rubbed with equal parts of soap liniment and spirit of 
turpentine, and it should be assisted to stand for the purpose of sucking 
at regular short intervals if it is unable to help itself. In aggravated cases, 
however, the foal is not likely to recover its general strength, and it may 
be better to destroy it, but so long as it can stand and feeds well hopes 
may be entertained of the joints recovering. 
INFLAMED TENDINOUS SHEATHS. 
EVERY PRACTICAL HORSEMAN is aware that the sheaths in which the 
back sinews and other tendons are lodged are liable to inflammation and 
thickening, without the tendon itself being involved. By passing the 
hand down the leg, an irregular network may be felt surrounding the 
tendons, which move up and down without disturbing it; and the sur- 
rounding cellular membrane is also thickened, and become hard and 
unyielding. There may be considerable heat about the part, but often it 
is quite cool; and the disease may continue for months without any great 
Jameness, and with nothing to draw attention to it (excepting a slight 
stiffness on leaving the stable) but the sensation communicated to the 
hand. At length, an unusually severe day’s work sets up active inflam- 
mation, the leg rapidly fills, and there is so much lameness as to cause the 
horse to be thrown by.—The treatment, in the early stage, should be the 
use of bandages, constantly kept wet with arnica and water, and nothing 
but walking exercise. After the thickening is fully established, no remedy 
short of blistering, or a charge, will be of the slightest avail, with a rest of 
two or three months. 
INFLAMED BURSZ MUCOSA. 
THESE SYNOVIAL BAGS are lable to inflammation, either from hard 
work, as in windgalls and thoroughpin, or from blows, as in capped hock 
and elbow. The latter are said by some veterinarians to be serous ab- 
cesses ; but there is no doubt that in all horses a subcutaneous bursa 
exists on the cap of the elbow and hock ; and these become inflamed and 
filled with a very thin synovia, when they are bruised. They never 
