DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 249 



symptoms of the most affecting suffering. It must be borne 

 in mind that, although a joint be not open in the first 

 instance, subsequent sloughing may expose its cavity. Now, 

 the ordinary effects of disease in the synovial membrane are, 

 first, a preternatural secretion of synovia, — hence the pro- 

 fuse discharge observed in these cases ; second, an effusion of 

 adhesive matter into the cavity of the joint ; third, a thick- 

 ening of the synovial membrane, a conversion of it into a 

 substance resembling gristle, and an effusion of adhesive mat- 

 ter, and probably serum, into the cellular substance around, 

 by which the external parts and those of the joints are firmly 

 cemented together. In the latter stage the disease commonly 

 extends itself to the cartilaginous surfaces ; they exfoliate, leav- 

 ing the extremities of the bones denuded, to grate on each 

 other as often as the joint is moved. The bones, in their 

 turn, throw out deposits from their ends around the joint — a 

 process that ultimately ensues, and anchylosis is the result." 



The indication to be fulfilled is to promote adhesion by 

 bringing the edges together, and confining them in contact 

 either by taking a few stitches, or shaving the hair off around 

 the parts, and applying strips of adhesive plaster. The parts 

 may have a pledget of lint bound on, moistened with healing 

 balsam ; and if the limb will admit of it, a splint may be 

 bound to the back part of it, so as to prevent all possibility 

 of flexion. If union cannot be produced by this means, the 

 parts may be poulticed with astringents. (See Appendix.) 

 The object is to close the joint, and promote granulation. 

 If the parts are inactive, sprinkle the surface of the poultice 

 with charcoal and capsicum. In a case that came under the 

 author's care in this city, and one in which there was no hope 

 of its healing by the first intention, the tincture of capsi- 

 cum was daily injected : this, together with tonic, stimulat- 

 ing, astringent poultices and fomentations, completed the cure. 

 In cases where the external wound is large, and there is much 

 heat, pain, and loss of motion, poultices of a relaxing and 

 lubricating nature should be used ; such are lobelia and 

 slippery elm. A severe injury of this kind may be converted 

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