248 ' NAVIX ox THE HOESE. 



the joint-oil. The last is the most serious form of the injury. 

 If the hole into the synovial sack b(i small, and where the mo- 

 tion of the knee is not considerable, as at the union of the 

 lower row of knee-bones with those of the shank, considerable 

 hope of a cure may be entertained. If small and high up, 

 opposite the upper row, it may be cured; but if opposite the 

 union of the two rows of knee-bones, the case may be looked 

 upon as of an extremely unfavorable character, and very 

 certainly so if the opening be large. 



The mischief results from the synovia, or joint-oil, escaping, 

 and allowing the surfaces of those delicate membranes to 

 come in contact with each other, which excites inflammation 

 in them. This inflammation is of the severest character, noth- 

 ing equaling its painfulness. A high degree of sympathetic 

 fever supervenes, the inflammation becomes worse and worse, 

 and the fever increases, and the horse is destroyed. Or, if he 

 does not die, the joint fills up with bony matter, rendering it 

 perfectly stiff, or, as it is termed, anchylosed. 



Treatment — Clean the cut and carefully examine it with a 

 probe, to ascertain if the joint is really opened. If it is found 

 not to be open, the wound is to be treated much the same as 

 an ordinary contused or bruised Avound. To reduce inflam- 

 mation and prevent proud -flesh from sprouting up too much, 

 apply a poultice of ground flax-seed, with a little burnt alum 

 dusted over it. But if the joint is opened, and the joint-oil 

 is flowing out, the case is a most serious one, and may baflle 

 any treatment. The object to be attained is to close the wound 

 for the purpose of preventing the escape of the synovia, or 

 joint-oil. 



The only plan of treatment which ofi'ers any probability of 

 success is the application of the hot iron to the wound, and 

 particularly to the opening into the joint. The swelling which 

 follows the application of the iron is so great as to close the 

 wound. After the burning, a poultice may be applied, and the 

 case treated as an ordinary wound, but should the joint-oil 



