WOUNDS AND ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF TTIE HOCK-JOINT. 9S9 



inflammation is less dangerous in the lower, less mobile portions 

 of the hock than in the tibio-tarsal joint, in which the destruction 

 of the articular cartilage is always followed by severe and permanent 

 lameness. In the smaller joints, inflammation may lead to obliteration 

 of the joint and restoration of the animal's usefulness. Provided 

 the wound remain aseptic, there is less danger. Such cases are more 

 particularly seen in cows after parturition. Slight cases, i.e., those 

 where inflammation is not marked, heal in fourteen days, but the 

 more severe take four to six weeks. 



Treatment follows general principles. If the joint be injured 

 efforts must be made to preserve it. Small, and especially perforating 

 wounds must first be carefully cleansed, disinfected and covered 

 with iodoform, or an ointment of sublimate, with lard or paraffin 

 (1 — 10), may be applied. The swelling produced by the irritant 

 leads to rapid closure of the wound, and prevents infection of the 

 joint. Large wounds, particularly those of an incised character, 

 should be thoroughly disinfected and sutured. Quiet horses may 

 be slung, and a surgical dressing applied ; but when this cannot be 

 used, and it is impossible to suture the wound on account of extensive 

 bruising, permanent irrigation offers the best means of preventing 

 infection of the joint. Lorenz cured a wound in a horse's hock by 

 irrigating with 1 in 5,000 sublimate solution, and afterwards blistering. 



If purulent or septic inflammation has already attacked the tibio- 

 tarsal joint, little can be done, though irrigation with disinfectants 

 may be tried. Washing out the joint with dilute disinfectants 

 like 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 2,000 sublimate solution has not hitherto proved 

 very successful, but it might be tried when the joint is opened. 

 Syringing with disinfectants is useful in wounds in the lower portions 

 of the joint. 



Hydrogen peroxide solution has been recommended, and success 

 has once or twice followed its use in open hock-joint. Hohmann 

 opened the hock- joint of an ox and evacuated some fibrino-purulent 

 fluid. Healing occurred under permanent irrigation. 



To prevent excessive granulation in the bend of the hock, the 

 animal should be tied up short, and every precaution taken to limit 

 movement of the hock -joint : the granulating surface is treated 

 on general principles. 



IV.— CHRONIC SYNOVITIS OF THE TIBIO-TARSAL JOINT. BOG SPAVIN. 



Bog spavin consists in excessive distension of the anterior capsule 

 of the true hock-joint. The capsular ligament is attached above to 



