SPAVIN AND KNUCKLING OVER AT THE FETLOCK. 445 



Diagnosis. — Acute lymphangitis with abscess formation in the popli- 

 teal lymphatic glands, and local moist gangrene. 



Treatment. — Cleansing of the parts, excision of the gangrenous 

 tissues, and disinfection of the wound with strong carbolic solution. 

 Haemorrhage was trifling, but was followed by discharge of lymph. At 

 the base of the wound the posterior tibial artery was seen. As the 

 skin formed a pocket in the direction of the hock, it was incised for a 

 distance of three inches. The skin of the fetlock, pastern, and coronet, 

 affected with grease, was clipped, washed with soap and water, and dis- 

 infected with carbolic solution, and afterwards treated with 6 per cent, 

 sulphate of copper solution. 



During the first two days the wound was cleansed night and 

 morning with strong carbolic solution, and dusted with tannin. Frag- 

 ments of dead tissue separated, suppuration was very abundant, and 

 the odour extremely repulsive. 



Swelling of the limb persisted, but the general condition was good, 

 and fever moderate. Temperature 387° to 3g'3° C. The animal ate 

 the greater part of its food. 



On the 17th treatment with oxygenated water (hydroxyl) was com- 

 menced. Night and morning the wound was cleansed with lukewarm 

 boiled water, and then sponged with oxygenated water. The tissues 

 touched with this fluid assumed a whitish tint, which persisted for 

 about an hour. The animal did not object to the dressing, and did not 

 seem to suffer pain. Temperature 38*5° C. 



Next day the wound was much less foetid, and suppuration had 

 markedly diminished. The stream of pus which previously ran down 

 the limb had disappeared, but a little lymph still discharged. 



During the following three days the use of oxygenated water was 

 followed by similar effects. The w^ound granulated actively over its 

 entire surface. Discharge of lymph continued, but swelling gradually 

 diminished. 



On the 25th the wound was half healed, and the sinus communi- 

 cating with its deepest part was much smaller. 



On the ist December the sinus had closed and suppuration ceased. 

 The limb was only slightly swollen, and the swelling disappeared with 

 exercise. 



Remark. — In several other cases of inflammation accompanied by 

 gangrene, and of contused wounds with sloughing margins, oxygenated 

 water has had the same remarkable action. It rapidly purified 

 gangrenous or septic areas, and diminished suppuration and fever. 



SPAVIN AND KNUCKLING OVER AT THE FETLOCK. 



150. A thirteen-year-old gelding, left in hospital May 23rd, 1894. 



Had been lame for about six months. The lameness, though at 

 first intermittent, became continuous, and for a month previously had 

 rendered the animal useless. 



When standing the off hind limb was rested on the toe and the 

 fetlock markedly flexed, in consequence of contraction of the flexor 



