368 BROKEX KNEES. 



cold water, to cleanse the wound from all gravel and dirt. It must then 

 be ascertained Avhether the joint is penetrated. The grating of the probe 

 on one of the bones of the knee, or the depth to Avhich the probe enters 

 the wound, will too plainly indicate that the joint has been opened. Should 

 any doubt exist, a linseed-meal poultice must be applied. This will at 

 least act as a fomentation to the wound, and will prevent or abate in- 

 flammation ; and when, twelve honrs afterwards, it is taken off, the synovia 

 or joint-oil, in the form of a glairy, yellowish, transparent fluid, will be 

 seen, if the capsular ligament has been penetrated. 



It having been ascertained that the interior of the joint is not injured, 

 attention must be paid to the wound that is actually made. The horse 

 should wear a cradle to prevent his getting at the wound. A stimulating 

 apph'cation — turpentine and oil in equal parts is as good as any — should 

 be Hghtly applied every day until healthy ptis is produced on the wound, 

 and then a Httle friar's balsam will probably effect a cure. 



The opening of the joint, however, being ascertained, the first and 

 immediate care is to close the orifice ; for the fluid which separated and 

 lubricated the bones of the knee being suffered to escape, they will be 

 brought into contact with, and will rub upon, each other ; the deUcate 

 membrane with which they are covered will be highly inflamed ; the 

 constitution will be speedily affected, and a degree of fever will ensue that 

 will destroy the horse ; while, in the roeantime, of all the tortures that can 

 be inflicted on the poor animal, none can equ^al that which accompanies 

 inflammation of the membranes lining the joints. 



The manner of closing the orifice must be left to tlie judgment of the 

 veterinary surgeon, who alone is capable of properly treating such a case. 

 It may be effected by a compress enclosing the whole of the wound, and 

 not to be removed for many days ; or it may be attempted by the old and 

 generally successful method of applying the hot iron over the wound, and 

 particularly over the spot where the ligament appears to be lacerated. 



The surgeon will find no difficulty in determining whether the sharp edge 

 of the common firing- iron should be used, as would be the case if the 

 laceration is considerable ; or whether the budding-ii'on should be resorted 

 to. After the use of the cauter}^, the application of a blister may, in some 

 cases, be serviceable. Should the joint-oil continue to flow, the iron may 

 be applied a second, or even a third time. By its application sj^novia is 

 coagulated, so much swelling is produced on the immediate puncture, and 

 in the neighbouring parts, as mechanically to close and plug up the 

 orifice. 



If, however, the opening into the joint is extensive, and the joint-oil 

 continues to flow, and the horse is evidently suffering much pain, humanity 

 will dictate that he should be destroyed. The case is hopeless. A high 

 degree of fever will ere long carry him ofl^, or the inflammation will cause 

 a deposit of matter in the cavity of the joint that will produce incurable 

 lameness. 



The pain caused by the iron is doubtless great ; it is, however, neces- 

 sary : but let no reader of ' The Horse ' permit the torturing experiments 

 of the farrier to be tried, who will frequently inject stimulating fliiids, 

 and even oil of vitriol, into one of the most sensible and irritable cavities 

 in the whole frame. 



A person well acquainted with the anatomy of the part will judge of 

 the ]3robabiHty of a favourable result, not merely by the extent, but by 

 the situation of the Avound. If it is low down, and opposite to the bottom 

 row of the bones of the knee, a small opening into the joint will be easily 

 closed. A larger one needs not to cause despair, because there is little 

 motion between the lower row and the bones of the leg. If it is high up, 



