WOUNDS OF JOINTS. 325 



bulbs or roots are not injured. These are situated in the internal 

 layer of the true skin, and therefore, whenever there is a smooth 

 red surface displayed, without any diflerence in the texture of its 

 parts, a confident hope may be expressed that there will be no 

 blemish. If the skin is penetrated, either the glistening surface 

 of the tendons or ligaments is apparent, or there is a soft layer of 

 cellular membrane, generally containing a fatty cell or two in the 

 middle of the wound of the skin. Even here, by proper treat- 

 ment, the injury may be repaired so fully, that the space uncovered 

 by hair cannot be recognised by the ordinary observer, and not 

 by any one without bending the knee and looking very carefully 

 at it. The best treatment is to foment the knee well with warm 

 water, so as to remove every particle of grit or dirt; go on with 

 this every hour during the first day, and at night apply a bran 

 poultice to the knee, which should be left on till the next morn- 

 ing. Then cleanse the wound, and apply a little spermaceti oint- 

 ment, or lard without salt, and with this keep the wound pliant 

 until it heals, which if slight it will in a few days. If the skin is 

 pierced there will generally be a growth above it of red flabby 

 granulations, which should be carefully kept down to its own 

 level (not beneath it), by the daily use of blue stone, or if neces- 

 sary of nitrate of silver. As soon as the wound is perfectly 

 healed, if the horse can be spared, the whole front of the knee 

 and skin should be dressed with James' blister, which will bring 

 off the hair of the adjacent parts, and also encourage the growth 

 of that injured by the fall. In about three weeks or a month 

 from its application, the leg will pass muster, for there will be no 

 difference in the color of the old and new hair as there would 

 have been without the blister, and the new will also have come 

 on more quickly and perfectly than it otherwise would. 



When the joint itself is opened the case is much more 

 serious, and there is a risk not only of a serious blemish, which 

 can seldom be avoided, but of a permanent stiffness of the leg, the 

 mischief sometimes being sufficient to lead to constitutional fever, 

 and the local inflammation going on to the destruction of the joint 

 by anchylosis. The treatment should be directed to cleanse and 

 then close the joint, the former object being carried out by a 

 careful ablution with warm water, continued until there is no 

 doubt of all the dirt and grit having been removed. Then, if 

 there is only a very small opening in the capsular ligament, it 

 may be closed by a careful and light touch of a pointed iron 

 heated to a red heat. Generally, however, it is better to apply 

 some dry carded cotton to the wound, and a bandage over this, 

 leaving all on for four or five days, when it may be removed and 

 reapplied. The horse should be ^led largely and physicked, taking 

 care to prevent all chance of his lying down by racking him up. 

 28 



