IXJURIES OF THE JOIXTS 345 



The course of this disease differs greatly according to the character 

 of the wound and whether the object that caused it was clean or not. 

 ymall perforating wounds heal quickly, and the animals limp only for a 

 few days. In serious wounds where the joint has been exposed, and 

 dirt or other foreign l^odies have obtained entrance into the joint, the 

 prognosis is less favorable. In such cases we notice a great discharge of 

 synovia. This is clear in the early stage of the disease, but soon be- 

 comes turliid by the addition of pus-corpuscles and fibrinous clots. It 

 then becomes flaky and finally purulent. At the same time there is 

 great fever around the joint, which is swollen very much, and the neigh- 

 boring tissues become cedematous, extending in all directions. We may 

 see numerous abscesses forming all around the joint or in the inter- 

 muscular connective tissue, and finally the animal dies from general 

 exhaustion or pyaemia. 



According to the circumstances and condition of the wound, the 

 course may be much more rapid. The synovia becomes purulent in a 

 short time; septic fever shows itself ciuickly; there is a rapid pulse; the 

 animal sinks into a coma, and dies from septicsemia. This may even 

 occur in slight wounds, if they have not been treated properly, and 

 where thorough disinfection has not been followed. 



Therapeutic Treatment. — The first thing to do after an injury has 

 occured is to thoroughly disinfect the wound and its immediate neighbor- 

 hood. Clip the hair from all around the part, then wash it with a solu- 

 tion of corrosive sulDiimate, and, in cases where the puncture is very 

 narrow, clean it out by means of a syringe with a 2 per cent, solution of 

 creolin and a 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid, or a 1 per cent, solution of 

 corrosive sublimate. If you find the object which caused the puncture 

 was very dirty, the wound must be enlarged and thoroughly washed with 

 any of the above-named solutions. The wound should then be closed 

 by means of sutures, taking care when stitching it up not to include the 

 synovial membrane or any part of the joint in the sutures. It is well, 

 however, in some cases, to place a small piece of catgut or silk in the 

 lower surface of the wound in order to assist in emptying the joint. We 

 then place the joint in an antiseptic dressing and cover it up. 



If we have to deal with a wound that has been neglected and where 

 suppuration has been going on for some time, and the owner does not 

 wish to destroy the animal, we must enlarge the wound at once, and 

 all pockets, or sacs, in the joint must be emptied and washed with a solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate. Any clots, masses, or pieces of tissue must 

 he removed, and the operation finished as before described. In all 

 these cases the animal must have absolute rest, and the dressing be 

 renewed frequently. 



Contusions of the Joints. — Under this head we class injuries to the 



