■WOUNDS.] 



THE HOESE, AN^D 



[wounds. 



Veterinary College. A large cart-horse was 

 brought in with an open joint. Ultimately 

 the opening closed, but new granulations 

 formed, and a wound about the size of half-a- 

 crown was the consequence. This wound was 

 ordered to be dressed with spirits of turpentine, 

 which was accordingly done ; but, from symp- 

 tomatic fever, the animal died in three or four 

 (lavs. When a joint is early discovered, after 

 being penetrated, the synovia will flow white 

 and pure, or it may have a little tinge of blood 

 in it ; but, if the accident is not discovered for 

 three or four days, the joint-oil will be found 

 to put on a yellowish colour, and the dis- 

 charge be considerably increased. If means are 

 not speedily taken to close the external open- 

 inw, coagulable lymph is thrown out; and in 

 consequence of the inflammation being great, 

 the vessels may inosculate together, and in all 

 probability a stifl:' joint will supervene. In 

 some cases, the pain and irritation are so great, 

 that the animal either sinks under it, or be- 

 comes a mere skeleton. But this need not be 

 considered a matter of surprise, when we reflect 

 on the treatment of the old farriers, who, in 

 general, made use of strong stimulants, taken 

 from their long list of infallible nostrums. 



The treatment of open joints, if discovered 

 in their recent state, may not be so difficult. 

 The first object to which attention should be 

 directed is to remove all extraneous matter, 

 such as dirt, gravel, and any other substance that 

 may aggravate the aftected part. Then proceed 

 to close the wound, which must be first com- 

 menced by clipping oflE" the hair for some dis- 

 tance all round it. If not large, strips of 

 adhesive plaister should be applied, drawing 

 the lips of the wound as closely as possible 

 together, and placing over them a pleget ol 

 tow, and immediately after a linen bandage, 

 about three yards long, and four inches wide, 

 so that the shutting-up of the cavity may be 

 complete. In addition to this, the symptoms 

 of irritation, both local and general, must not 

 be neglected; for if the symptomatic fever is 

 high, the case must be treated accordingly. 

 This will be discovered by the animal having 

 lost his appetite, the heat and dryness of his 

 mouth, as well as the quickness and weakness 

 of his pulse, and his breathing short. Il 

 these are the symptoms — which in all proba- 

 bility will occur — immediately take from two 

 210 



to four quarts of blood, and give the following 

 ball :— 



No. 1. 

 Cape Aloes ...... .1 drachm. 



Digitales .2 do. 



Linseed Meal U do. 



Form with soap. 

 Give a ball of this kind night and morning, 

 until the fever and irritation are abated. Or, 



No. 2. 



Cape Aloes 1 drachm. 



White Hellebore 1^ do. 



Linseed Meal 3 do. 



Form into a ball, and give as the first. By 

 this means the irritation will be allayed, the 

 fever abate, and the beating of the pulse be- 

 come less rapid. 



When the wound is more extensive, or more 

 irregular, sutures should be employed with 

 the pleget of tow, as before described. The 

 part should be well bandaged, and every means 

 taken to keep the horse aa still as possible. 

 Use a neck- cradle, lest, from the irritation, he 

 may be inclined to gnaw the part affected. If 

 these appliances have not the desired effect, 

 recourse must be had to the actual cautery ; 

 and, if the opening is not too large, the budding- 

 iron, of as good a shape as can be used, must 

 be brought into operation, and the edges 

 lightly touched with it. If the wound should 

 be large and irregular, use a firing-iron care- 

 fully. These means have succeeded when all 

 others have failed. Let the iron be heated to 

 a dull red heat, which will be quite sufficient; 

 and care must be taken not to insinuate it too 

 far, otherwise considerable inflammation may 

 follow. A stoppage of the synovia will show 

 when the cautery has been sufficiently applied, 

 when a pleget of tow must be put over it, and 

 a poultice of bran, wetted frequently with the 

 following : — 



Sal-ammoniac, powdered . . . 4 oz. 



Sugar of Lead 1 do. 



Vinegar 3 pints. 



AVater , . 1 do. 



If the oozing of the synovia recommences, 

 apply the iron again ; and, as often as the 

 oozing appears, repeat it, by which success may 

 eventually be calculated on. In some aggra- 

 vated cases blisters have been immediately 

 applied with good effect. Rowels are some- 

 times employed as near the part as convenient, 



