300 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



Symptoms. — In a case where the skin, ligaments, and 

 synovial membrane are opened or divided by means of a 

 sharp cutting instrument, and the surrounding tissues not 

 bruised, etc., there may not be any very severe symptoms 

 presented for some little time — twenty-four to forty-eight 

 hours ; but the synovia escapes, air obtains entrance to the 

 wound, irritation and severe inflammation follow, accom- 

 panied by great swelling, and the suff'ering of the animal 

 becomes most agonizing, and, unless speedily checked, death 

 is certain. At first the discharge consists of pure synovia, 

 which escapes freely and regularly. Soon a change takes place 

 in the character of the discharge, and f)us is observed to be 

 mixed with the synovia. After awhile the discharge be- 

 comes streaked with blood, or takes on a red or rusty sort 

 of tinge : this is a sign that caries is going on, and that 

 absorption of the cartilages and articular lamellae has taken 

 place ; and the blood occurring in the discharge is coming 

 from the cancellated tissue of the bones ; at this stage 

 the best result that can be hoped for is anchylosis of the 

 joint. In some cases there may be a considerable flow of 

 pus, and the integrity of the joint not be interfered with ; 

 but if the pus is fetid, and streaked or tinged with blood, as 

 above described, and there is great constitutional disturb- 

 ance, the practitioner may know that the case is hoj^eless ; 

 and even the symptomatic fever is often sufficient to pro- 

 duce death. The appetite is completely lost or seriously 

 impaired, great thirst is present, the body becomes bathed 

 with sweat, the pulse is quick and weak, the mucous mem- 

 branes are blanched, the general appearance of the animal 

 indicates suff'ering of a very severe character, great emacia- 

 tion supervenes, and death occurs in a short time; or in 

 some cases infiltration of pus may occur in connection with 

 the tissues in the vicinity of the injury, with sloughing of 

 an extensive character, formation of sinuses, etc. These 



