46 & WOUNDS. 



characterise open joint, and too often succumbs, or has to be 

 destroyed. 



I had a case in the winter 1874-5 where the sensitive frog 

 was frost or rather snow bitten. A piece about the size of a 

 florin sloughed off, leaving the navicular bursa opened ; the 

 lameness was excessive; synovia flowed abundantly for some 

 weeks ; a large sinus formed in the heel. The horse, however, 

 fed moderately well, lay down and took plenty of rest, and the 

 injury being in a fore foot — which makes a most important 

 difference in all cases of severe injuries — eventually recovered. 

 The treatment consisted in the application of poultices, suc- 

 ceeded by cold water and mild astringents, and finally blisters 

 to the coronet, a high-heeled shoe having been put on the foot 

 as soon as the poultices were discontinued, and which afforded 

 marked relief. In the treatment of frost-bites poultices should 

 not be applied for too long a period, for after the slough is 

 thrown off the parts recover quicker without than with poultices; 

 and, as a general rule, frost-bites are at first best treated with 

 cold applications; but if sloughing has commenced, poultices, 

 irrigations, or fomentations are to be employed, succeeded by 

 cold mild astringents, antiseptics, or deodorizers, such as 

 charcoal. 



Burns and Scalds. — These are common at iron works, and 

 result from horses falling on hot dross, the bursting of steam- 

 pipes, &c. 



The division of burns is, from time immemorial, into three 

 classes — (1.) Burns producing mere redness ; (2.) Those causing 

 vesication ; and (3.) Those causing death of the part burnt. 



The first class is attended with mere superficial inflammation, 

 terminating with or without — more generally with — desquama- 

 tion of the cuticle and temporary loss of the hair. 



The second class is attended by a higher degree of inflamma- 

 tion, causing the cutis to exude serum, and to form vesicles, 

 followed in most instances by suppuration and the formation of 

 obstinate ulcers. The formation and increase of these vesicles 

 may be often prevented by proper treatment. 



The third class of burns is attended with mortification from 

 disorganization of structure ; the skin and subcutaneous tissues 

 being literally roasted or boiled, as the case may be, the blood 

 coagulated in its vessels, and the circulation of the part com- 

 pletely stopped. . . 



