ULCERATIVE DISEASE OF JOINTS. 49 



articular cartilages is followed by caries and softening of the ends 

 or articular surfaces of the bones, the result of which is — inflanri- 

 matory action in the meanwhile being aroused in the surrounding 

 ligamentary and fibro-cartilaginous tissues — anchylosis, partial or 

 complete, and destruction, at least for any useful purpose, of the 

 motions of the joint. 



The lameness consequent on ulcerative disease of joints is 

 found to be, as indeed might be expected, greater at one time than 

 at another. There are reasons for this. In the first place, it must 

 be remembered that the synovial membrane — that part of it at least 

 which is reflected upon the articular cartilages — is not in health 

 a very sensitive part, whatever it may be in a state of inflamma- 

 tion or of ulceration ; and in respect to ulceration, it must also 

 be remembered, that, although its commencement is certainly in the 

 membranous tissue, the cartilage becomes its veritable bed — soon, 

 indeed, its all but exclusive seat; and the articular cartilages, we 

 know, of themselves possess little or no sensibility at any time. 

 When once caries of the bone, however, commences, again does 

 the case, so far as lameness is concerned, change its nature ; bone 

 being, in a state of disease, a sensitive structure. The grand or 

 chief producer of lameness would appear to be the inflammation 

 present. In the case of a recent injury, so long as the breach was 

 fresh, and was confined chiefly to the synovial membrane, we 

 believe that lameness, slight in degree, would ensue : we are not 

 sure, however, that this lameness would be shewn — certainly not 

 to the same amount — when once the ulcerations had made the 

 cartilage their bed, and, in the absence of all inflammatory action 

 either in the synovial membrane or in the bone ; for, as for the 

 articular cartilages, it is very doubtful whether they, of themselves, 

 be susceptible of any such interstitial action as inflammation. 



Consideration of these phenomena, connected with health and 

 disease, will best guide us through those mazes in practice in 

 which we find ourselves so frequently called on to give opinions 

 as to the probability of cure, and as to the likelihood there appears 

 of that cure being permanent. The grand point for the veterinary 

 surgeon to arrive at, is the actual morbid condition of the joint he 

 is called on to treat : whether inflammation be present or no, and 



VOL. IV. H 



