448 WOUNDS. 



wound will be closed. The joint will also be of the natural 

 size, and if no skin has been destroyed the injury will be 

 difficult to detect. 



The clothing must be suited to the weather, so as to 

 keep the horse warm, without making the animal hot. 

 The food is to consist of the most supporting or nutritive 

 kind. The water is to be whitened, and to be likewise 

 chilled. The main obstacle, however, consists in getting 

 the lotion applied so often as is directed. It should, never- 

 theless, be remembered, that every thing depends upon the 

 wound being kept continually wet. The proprietor, or some 

 one on whom he can depend, should look into the stable 

 frequently, to ascertain that the groom does his duty. No 

 inattention to this point can be displayed without the 

 wound itself indicating the circumstance. If the part should 

 remain stationary for two or three days in succession, if 

 luxuriant granulations should at any time sprout, or if 

 the knee should enlarge during treatment, be certain of 

 neglect. 



It is as well in these cases to fasten the horse so far away 

 from the manger, that he cannot hurt his knee by knocking 

 the part against the w^ooden trough. The food can be put 

 in a basket, supported upon a light framework, which can 

 be placed before the horse at feeding time, and withdrawn 

 afterwards. A pail of w^ater can be always ready upon one 

 side, towards which the animal can turn his head, but 

 against which he cannot hit the open joint. The slings 

 may be removed in about a month, but no exercise must 

 be permitted until the wound be perfectly closed. 



If the skin be injured, a large scar may show, denuded 

 of hair. However, let it alone. As time progi^esses, the 

 cicatrix will contract. This will draw the divided edges 

 closer together ; and many a bare place upon the knees, 

 which has appeared large when the surgeon left the animal, 

 has, after the expiration of a few weeks, become almost 

 imperceptible. 



THE PENETRATED KNEE JOINT PARTICULARLY. 



There are some practical remarks connected with this 

 subject which require to be noticed, independently of the 



