116 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF • 



there is but little irritation, and if the animal is extremely lame, use 

 slings. Use counter-irritation, and apply around the whole articulation, 

 but do not rub it in too hard at the back part, for it would destroy the 

 skin and produce a sore that is difficult to heal. We sometimes apply a 

 blister to set up inflammation ; sometimes to hasten, and sometimes to 

 arrest, same process. Seatons and firing are recommended, but I think 

 blisters are best. 



Speedy-Cut is sometimes a very troublesome enlargement, and may 

 appear inside of the joint. It is produced by striking ; it may come gra- 

 dually, and be full, hard and tense, or come suddenly and be soft. In 

 some cases it is just contusion, just from one strike, which bruises the 

 tissues internally ; possibly there is extravasation of blood, and serum 

 forms ; or, from striking slightly, irritation is set up to a slight extent ; 

 this goes on, and a tumour comes on gradually. 



Treatment. — If the cause is kept up, it is likely to end in a serious 

 abscess. Kemove the cause. Use hot or cold applications ; if there is 

 much pain hot is preferable. But I think if cold is applied in time, 

 when there is not much pain, it prevents the bad results. There is 

 benefit in bandaging. Use acetate of lead and mild stimulating lini- 

 ments. If serum forms, open carefully after allaying ihe irritation 

 (Sime's abscess lancet is perhaps the best), then apply pressure; for if 

 you do not, it is likely to collect again. But do not be rash in opening 

 while there is irritation. The irritation can be reduced to a great extent 

 by cantharides or biniodide of mercury. There are various methods of 

 preventing striking ; attend to the shoeing, and in many cases it is 

 necessary to apply boots, sometimes from the foot to the shoulder. 



The Tendons of the Knee are sometimes cut, especially the meta- 

 carpi magnum, from falling or from a kick, or coming in contact with 

 some sharp instrument. The tendons will re-unite, but in injuries here 

 it is sometimes difficult to get reunion. In laceration of these tendons, 

 bring the divided edges of the skin together, keep the limb as straight as 

 possible— by splints, in some cases, and keep the parts quiet If you are 

 not called for some time after the accident, the horse has been moving 

 around, the ends of the tendons recede from each other, and there is a 

 kind of fungus growth thrown out inside of the wound ; when the ani- 

 mal moves, this either protrudes or disappears, which shows it is in con- 

 nection with the tendons. Cut the diseased portion out ; apply caustics 

 and considerable pressure. Good caustics are sulphate of copper, nitrate 

 of silver, carbplic acid, etc. Perfect reunion will not take place, but a 

 growth is thrown out by which the two ends are united, and there will 

 always be an enlargement. 



Open Joint is a very serious result in any articulation, and some- 

 times there are severe constitutional symptoms set up, and it may cause 

 death by the constitutional fever. The joints most exposed are most 

 liable — the stifle, hock, fetlock and knee — but almost any joint may be 

 laid open. What I mean by open joint is where the skin, ligaments and 

 synovial membrane are opened up. It is one of the most serious injuries 

 to which the horse is liable, and varies much in its results. A series of 

 pathological changes takes place unless the discharge of synovia is 

 arrested very soon. I think if it occurs in a horse of a phlegmatic tem- 

 perament, it is more easily treated than in one of the opposite condition ; 

 the constitutional fever does not run so high. Notice the character of 

 the discharge. It is not so serious if opened with a sharp instrument, 

 as if done in a more violent manner, for if done by a kick, or from 

 falling, there is inflammation as well as open joint. It is sometimes a 

 punctured wound produced by a pitch fork. In a case where a capsular 



