Open Joints. 



These will be considered in two parts, namely, 

 those of recent origin in fresh wounds and those of 

 a chronic or subacute and infected character. 



1. Fresh Wounds, Lacerating a Capsular Liga- 

 ment. It frequently happens, as the result of acci- 

 dents, that an articulation is involved in the trauma. 

 While all accidental wounds in veterinary patients are 

 to be considered surgically unclean, it is well not to 

 carry this theory too far. Unless much extraneous 

 matter such as hair, chaff, etc., has entered directly 

 into the articulation, do not allow antiseptic solutions 

 to penetrate to the synovial surfaces when cleaning 

 up such a wound. 



Swab the surrounding parts as clean as possible 

 with cotton, but do not allow any of the solution to 

 reach the joint. (Nothing seems to irritate a synovial 

 cavity more than water.) After the surrounding parts 

 are thoroughly swabbed and dried with clean, dry 

 cotton, the wound cavity is completely filled with 

 powdered natrium bicarbonate, C. P., some of which 

 is even gently pressed so as to enter the synovial 

 cavity. It is important that enough be used. A thin 

 layer of cotton is now made to cover the lesion and 

 retained either with collodion or bandages. 



This dressing should be allowed to remain for 

 twenty-four hours. At the end of that time it should 



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