344 DISEASES OF THE ARTICULATIONS 



directly into the cavity of the joint by means of a hypodermatic needle and 

 with a syringe inject a quantity of fluid in proportion to the size of the 

 joint. This operation has to be repeated every three or four days, fol- 

 lowing the same procedure before and after the operation as has been 

 already described. 



The joint may he opened by means of a puncture ivith a lancet. This is 

 advisable where there is extensive suppuration going on in the joint and 

 where the diseased part shows every indication of a septic condition. 

 The joint to be opened should be punctured by means of a lancet or bis- 

 toury, making a wound just sufficient to empty it freely. It must then l)e 

 cleansed with an antiseptic solution and any clots or detached portions of 

 tissue washed out; then close the wound by means of sutures. In some 

 cases it is well to leave one corner open for drainage, that, of course, being 

 the lower one. We then place an antiseptic dressing over the whole part. 



Injuries of the Joints. 



These may l^e divided into several groups — true wounds of the 

 joints, contusions, distortions, and luxations. 



Wounds of the Joints. — Wounds of the joints — that is to say, 

 injuries which expose the joint proper to the atmosphere — are divided 

 into perforating or cutting wounds, being produced by laceration, con- 

 tusion, and shot. 



Clinical Symptoms and Course. — The first symptom of injury to the 

 joint, as a rule, is a discharge of synovia from the wound. This, however, 

 may be absent in cases where the wound is very fine, or where the punc- 

 ture runs in an oblique direction; the amount of discharged synovia, as a 

 rule, is very slight at the beginning, and of normal consistency. If the 

 wound is not closed immediately, it increases in amount and becomes 

 thinner. In some cases it is difficult to tell positively whether the syno- 

 via comes from the joint or from the sheath of a tendon. In the latter 

 case, however, the amount of synovia is generally very slight. Blood 

 may accumulate in the cavity of the joint and develop a haemarthrosis. 

 In some cases where there is hemorrhage, the wound may be very small 

 and close up quickly, or it may lie in an o]:)lique direction and prevent 

 the escape of blood. This flows into the joint and ffils it up. Hannar- 

 throsis is distinguished from serous or purulent secretions by appearing 

 shortly after the injury, and the absence of all inflammatory symptoms — 

 that is, at the onset of the disease. 



The other symptoms of wounds of the joints are acute sensitive- 

 ness, the animal limping and showing great pain, holding its leg in a 

 flexed condition. Generally the external opening of the wound can 

 also be distinguished. 



