220 INJURIES. 



remove by the sloughing process. I then foment, say for half an hour^ 

 for the purpose of cleansing the wound, as well as encouraging the dis- 

 charge of as much blood as can be by that means obtained ; after this I 

 dress simply, and bind the joint by a flannel bandage of some yards in 

 length. This dressing I repeat daily, till synovia appears, when I dis- 

 continue fomentations, and use a saturated solution of corrosive subli- 

 mate in spirits of wine ; or a lotion made by first dissolving the salt in 

 muriatic acid, in the proportion of two drachms of the former to four 

 drachms of the latter, and one pound of water. This dressing may be 

 used twice a- day, until synovia has ceased flowing ; after which the wound 

 may be treated in the ordinary way. In a few instances, the foregoing 

 liquids will not be sufficiently strong of the corrosive sublimate to coagu- 

 late the synovia as it issues from the joint ; you may then use the subli- 

 mate in the form of a fine powder, either mixed with some description of 

 farina, or even alone, taking care that it does not find its way into the 

 joint, and as much as possible applying it only to soft parts, and in a 

 manner avoiding every thing but the coagulated synovia which will be 

 found about the opening through which the liquid flows. In punctured 

 wounds of joints, the introduction of the powdered sublimate a little way 

 into the opening is the best way of applying it. As a matter of course, I 

 bleed and give physic, &c. (' Veterinarian,' vol. iii, pp. 497, 498.) 



Other Opened Joints need not be described, having 

 entered so fully into that of broken knee. It is but seldom that 

 other kinds occur^ and when they do they consist in punc- 

 tures from thorns or stabs from pitchforks, &c. ; which circum- 

 stance renders them much more manageable than lacerated 

 knee-joints. 



Mr. Cooper, V.S., Berkhampstead, has of late, (1850), 

 been treating open joints on the principle of union by the 

 first intention. He employs the twisted suture wherever this 

 form is practicable to bring the borders of the broken joint 

 together ; if the parts be not close, yet they are approached 

 near enough to admit of tow being wound round small 

 needles, introduced either through the lips of the wound, or 

 when following this method, in parallel lines with their 

 borders : to unite the edges of the orifice, four needles may 

 be advantageously introduced. 



The last and simplest mode of treatment is that proposed 

 by Mr. Mayhew. I have not been able to try his sugges- 

 tions, but according to his statement they are all of value. 



