DISEASES OF JOINTS. 179 



tubercular matter, and deposition, in and around the joints, of 

 mineral poison, as seen in horses employed in smelting works. 



SwMPTo.Ms. — Lameness and fever. The pulse will be quick 

 and irritable, sweats bedew the body, and the lameness is so great 

 that the animal cannot put its foot to the ground. The aii'ected 

 joint soon swells, becoming more tense in the later stages. There 

 will be increased heat and tenderness. 



Tkeatmext. — Every means should be employed to arrest the 

 disease before the cartilage becomes involved, or it will be in- 

 curable. If it is in the hock, the animal should be placed in 

 slings. Long continued and repeated fomentations should be 

 applied to the part, and a weak solution of opium or aconite ap- 

 plied to soothe the ])arts. Give six ounces of aloes, and, if the 

 pain be severe, give a dose three times a day of an ounce of tinc- 

 ture of opium. If the pain is less acute, one ounce of nitrous 

 aether may be given twice a day. Three drachms of nitrate of 

 potas. should be dissolved in his drinking water morning and 

 night. If the pulse be hard, twenty drops of aconite may be 

 used. If these remedies fail to give relief in the course of a few 

 days, a blister should be applied. If any lameness or thickening 

 of the joint threatens to remain, it may be necessary to apply 

 the actual cautery. 



CHRONIC SCROFULOUS SYNOVITIS. 



This disease is confined to horned cattle. The joints most 

 usually affected are the ell)ow and stifle and the foot joints in 

 cattle. It attacks animals of all ages, but generally after they 

 are three years old. 



Sympto:\is. — Lameness without swelling, luit later swelling 

 may appear. The swelling gradually enlarges, and the limb 

 below it wastes aw^ay. In some cases constitutional symptoms of 

 scrofula may be seen at the outset of the disease. Scrofula is 

 hereditary, and on its appearance in a herd it will be high time 

 to infuse new blood into it. 



Treatment. — The treatment can be but palliative. There is 

 no cure. 



