60 THE VETERINARIAN 



rarely gives rise to serious consequences because its 

 contents are composed of large intestines and omentum, 

 either of which is, in this position, not liable to become 

 strangulated. It may, however, become engorged and 

 inflamed from injury. Its existence naturally depreciates 

 the value of an animal suffering from it. 



Treatment : In the majority of cases, they will dis- 

 appear with their own accord in two or three months. In 

 case the rupture shows no signs of diminishing in size it 

 is well to apply a bandage around the abdomen or secure 

 the services of a competent veterinarian and he will pre- 

 scribe a treatment or operate, which will apply directly 

 to your colt's or horse's particular case. 



OPEN JOINT 



Cause: Injuries such as a kick from a sharp shoe-, 

 wire cuts, punctures from snags, or from probing a wound 

 near a joint. Open joint is one of the most serious ac- 

 cidents that may happen to a horse, for the sufferer is 

 apt to die from the ensuing constitutional disturbance, 

 and even if he recovers the joint will, in all probability, 

 be permanently stiff. 



Symptoms : If the joint is opened or severely injured 

 the wound will have an ordinary appearance except that 

 there may be a flow of joint oil from the injured oil sack. 

 However, the discharge gradually becomes more un- 

 healthy until finally it is mixed with pus and blood and 

 assumes a fetid odor. After two or three days the joint 

 swells and becomes very painful and a high fever sets in. 

 In unfavorable cases the animal dies from exhaustion 

 very shortly, or at best recovers with a permanently stiff 

 joint. 



Treatment: Never probe a wound near a joint. If 

 the injury is small and noticed immediately, apply Red 

 Iodide of Mercury, two drams; Vaseline, two ounces. 

 Mix and rub in well over the wound. This will set up 

 sufficient inflammation to close the opening and kill any 



