THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 287 



seldom occur ; the horse, in falling on his knees, merely lacerates 

 the integuments, and, perhaps, punctures the sheath of the ex- 

 tensor tendon which passes over the knee, from whence synovial 

 fluid escapes, and this is mistaken for the true joint synovia 

 Such an injury, although simple as it may appear, often termi- 

 nates in anchylosis of the carpal bones. 



Treatment. — Supposing the horse to have just fallen, let the 

 part be cleansed of foreign bodies ; then remove all the pendent 

 skin, and clip the hair short, (it is of no use to try to heal by 

 first intention — therefore sutures are useless ;) we then ascertain, 

 by probe, if the joint be opened ; but whether it be so or not, our 

 first dressing consists of a pledget saturated with tincture of aloes 

 and myrrh, over which apply a cold water bandage. Rest and 

 a light diet follow. The dressing is not to be removed until sup- 

 puration commences, which will be in the course of two or three 

 days ; then cleanse and apply a paste of charcoal and fir balsam, 

 and bandage as before. In cases of open joint with profuse dis- 

 charge of synovia, add an equal quantity of pulverized bayberry 

 bark to the charcoal, and dust the parts frequently with the same, 

 without removing the dressing ; for the wound must not be ex- 

 posed, unless absolutely necessary. We once cured a rather bad 

 case of open joint by covering the chasm with paste formed of fir 

 balsam, powdered myrrh, and charcoal ; over this was placed a 

 piece of lint, and a nicely-adjusted splint was fixed to the back of 

 the knee joint, and over the whole a starched bandage three 

 inches wide and five yards in length. 



left behind to serve as a plug will come away, and the injury be aggravated, 

 the bad effects alone being left behind. I know the iron is now recommended 

 for small openings alone ; but there may be a small opening in the first instance, 

 which, when the slough takes place, shall prove a large one; and what can be 

 the service of a remedy which is uncertain in its action, injurious in its appli- 

 cation, and which does not provide for the natural after-consequences ? There 

 remains yet another mode of treatment to be mentioned : this consists simply 

 in mechanically stopping the flow of synovia, — placing a cork in the orifice, as 

 I have heard it elegantly expressed. Now, as open joint is generally accom- 

 panied by a lacerated wound, a lacerated wound must close by suppuration; 

 then, in thus plugging the orifice, they not only prevent the escape of synovia 

 but at the same time they dam up the pus. It matters not whether lime, cor 

 rosive sublimate, compound tincture of aloes, with a pledget of tow and band 

 ages, India rubber, or brown paper be used ; the principle is the same." 



