DISEASES OF JOINTS. 



181 



wirj, sweats bedew the body, and the animal evinces acute and 

 agonizing pain. The animal cannot put the foot to the ground, 

 keeping it almost continually in a state of motion. The dis- 

 charge of synovia may be very trifling for some days after the 

 accident, but it generally increases as the inflammation advances, 

 is thin in consistency and mixed with flakes of lymph. The 

 secretion from the wound finally becomes unhealthy and tinged 

 with blood, while abscesses begin to form around the articula- 

 tion. The fever and 

 debility increases, 

 and if not arrested 

 the animal dies. 



Treatment. — A n 

 eft'ort should first be 

 made to promote the 

 healing of the wound 

 by first intention. 

 The lips of the 

 wound should b e 

 brought together by 

 sutures. All foreign 

 bodies, such as dirt, 

 gravel, or detached tissue, should be removed. A thin paste of 

 spirit varnish and iodoform must be applied, being painted on 

 in successive layers. Xext, place the animal in slings. All 

 other local applications should be withheld. 



Give six drachms of aloes, to be followed at intervals of four 

 to six hours by half-ounce doses of tincture of opium or twenty 

 drops of the tincture of aconite, and enemas of warm water will 

 be beneficial. If after the wound heals an inflammation still 

 exists, cold water should be applied in great abundance. If this 

 plan of treatment does not seem to succeed, a blister must be 

 used. 



If inflammation has already established itself and pus has 

 commenced to form, the wound should not be plugged. If plug- 



Fig. 3(3— Open Joint. 



