214 INJURIES. 



kept in the extended position — the more favorable will be 

 the process of healing. In fact, this must be regarded as 

 a highly essential part of the treatment. 



A case in which inflammation has become established may 

 become very difficult to manage. . In this latter case I have 

 repeatedly witnessed the best effects from a blister applied 

 all round the joint. To long-continued fomentations I am 

 opposed : they tend to promote luxuriant granulation. The 

 astringent powder is often a good covering for a small 

 sore. 



A powder both styptic, astringent, and absorbent, may be 

 made use of, and the following is much praised by Charles 

 Percivall : — 



Take of Powdered Alum ,• 1 -n , ^ •, . ; 



Bole Armenian I Equal parts and mix 

 Linseed Meal, J ^^^^ *°Sether. 

 (Flour is better than linseed meal.) 



The wound being clean and dry, this powder is to be 

 pushed with the finger into the synovial breach, and after- 

 wards laid upon it as thick as it will adhere ; subsequently 

 a quantity of it is to be bound upon the wound by means 

 of a broad, thick pledget of tow, supported and confined 

 by a many-tailed bandage. The lowermost tails being tied 

 first,^ will give the dresser an opportunity of lodging the 

 powder so as to be applied at once upon the wound, and then 

 immediately secured without chance of displacement. Over 

 the whole is to be rolled a common leg bandage of some 

 yards in length. Thus packed up, the limb is to be kept 

 as quiet as possible for several days, the horse being all the 

 while racked up and secured with double halter; until 

 swelling forces us to remove the wrapper; or the flow 

 of discharge calls for another attempt to plug up the open 

 joint. We may, however, have reason to slacken the 



' Query — Would the bichloride of mercury answer better than alum ? Or 

 has the alum— like the bichloride— the property of coagulating albuminous or 

 synovial fluids ? Would the sublimate do harm by producing sloughing ? 

 Perhaps it could be used in such quantity as not to cause sloughing. 



* Let the back of the joint be defended by tow or pads, or a troublesome 

 abrasion luav result. 



