OPENED KNEE AND OTHER JOINTS. 213 



Anchylosis constitutes one of Nature's modes of cure, since the dis- 

 ease terminates whenever it occurs ; thereby removing apprehension for 

 the animal's life. Unfortunately, however, life may as well be lost as 

 any important joint be rendered motionless. Though a man with a stiff 

 leg may still continue a useful member of society, no one would accept 

 of the services of a horse with an inflexible limb. 



Treatment. — That excellent surgeon^ Mr. Hey, of Leeds, 

 always laid stress on the importance of preventing inflam- 

 mation in a joint. His words are — '^ Upon this circum- 

 stance chiefly depends a successful termination.''^ Now, the 

 way to accomplish this, is to remove the cause which provokes 

 inflammation. This cause is the exposure of the cavity : 

 it therefore is our duty to close the opening. How is this 

 to be efi'ected? The human surgeon produces union by 

 adhesive plaster and by bandages. At the commencement of 

 my professional career, I pursued this plan, and not without 

 success : I soon, however, discovered its inaptitude for vete- 

 rinary purposes ; and was compelled to resort to more efl&- 

 cient measures. The actual cautery was, when Coleman 

 lived, in general favour. Since that time it has fallen into dis- 

 repute, and numerous remedies have been proposed. Styptics 

 of all kinds, from corrosive sublimate to newly burnt lime. 

 Mechanical genius has also been active. ^ Machines for 

 fixing the leg have been invented, and various improvements 

 proposed, few of which are worthy of notice. 



Splints and bandages, moreover, are often productive 

 rather of harm than good ; and unless our subject be of a 

 peaceable disposition, even slinging is not always to be re- 

 commended. Slight cases will, generally, do well confined 

 in a box, where the animal cannot move much about. It 

 should be turned loose, and wear a cradle. The best plan 

 is to have the head secured to the rack, or the side-reins, 

 so as to prevent lying down, and to keep the animal 

 standing, probably for two, three, four, or more days and 

 nights, according as the swelling of the limbs will admit 

 of it, the knees being all the while fomented. 



It is no more than reasonable to imagine, the less 

 flexion the injured joints undergo — the more quiet they are 



