THE CARPAL SHEATH 121 



flexed — complete extension of the joint exerts pressure upon the bursa. 

 There is an excessive secretion of synovia, of which there is a copious 

 discharge from the wound. The parts are very much swollen, particu- 

 larly above the joint and along the edges of the tendons below it. The 

 animal is the subject of anorexia, and if the wound is septic there is 

 considerable elevation of temperature. 



If the case is seen early and the wound is not septic, treatment is 

 hopeful. In such cases gentle massage towards the wound should be 

 applied, to discharge as much of the contents as possible. The wound 

 is then dressed and closed. Dry antiseptic dressing should now be dusted 

 plentifully over the part, and compresses applied and held in position 

 by tightly bandaging. The patient should now be placed in slings. 



Another method is to empty the sac by means of a fine trocar and 

 canula, and inject into it a weak solution of iodine. Dean's aspirator 

 has an advantage over other instruments for this purpose, since the 

 contents may be evacuated and the iodine injected without withdrawing 

 the nozzle of the syringe. 



If the wound is septic, treatment is rarely successful. The condition 

 frequently becomes chronic, when the swelling is blistered or fired and 

 blistered. 



Knee Thoropin. — This term is frequently applied to an abnormal 

 distension of the synovial apparatus of the carpal sheath owing to 

 hypersecretion of synovial fluid. On account of the greatly increased 

 quantity of fluid the membrane bulges above and below the knee in 

 the positions indicated in dealing with traumatic injuries. The 

 swelling above the knee is rounded, whilst that below the joint is 

 more elongated, and the latter may appear on the outer and inner 

 edges of the perforans tendon. 



The injury is usually due to a blow received over the part, or to the 

 animal crushing the part against the border of the manger in which the 

 foot has become fixed. Or it may be due to the limb being suspended 

 over the chain or collar shank by which the animal is tied up. 



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