2.5 



if the animal is likely to be of any service afterwards, to hasten on 

 the inflammatory process to throw out bony material sufficient to 

 unite the ends of the bones, and form a stiff joint. 



74. This condition is called Anchylosis — the unnatural consolidation 

 and immobility of a joint. In this case, the articular cartilage becomes 

 absorbed or destroyed, and a bony deposit takes its place in and 

 around the damaged joint, the two bones becoming united. Some- 

 tmies the disease continues, and breaks out, forming sinuses, which 

 discharge a fceted, irritative matter, and are extremely difficult to 

 deal with, requiring an operation and antiseptic treatment. Generous 

 diet is highly necessary. Old horses are very subject to anchylosis 

 from hard work or rheumatic affection, particularly in the backbones. 

 Great care is therefore necessary in casting these. The knee, hock, 

 fetlock, and pastern joints also, on many occasions, become fixed ; 

 and the ffexibilit}' of the limb is interfered with, but slow work, 

 particularly that on the farm, can be done without pain to the animal, 

 although what may be called mechanical lameness might be present. 

 Ancliylosis may, however, arise from other causes, and the joint 

 become fixed. 



75. When inflammation of bone is very intense, it may, at times, 

 terminate in death of the affected part, and is known as Necrosis, or 

 death of the bone, and resembles mortification in the soft structures. 

 The hard or compact structure is said to suffer most from Necrosis. 

 I have seen it in the lower jaw, incited by the rough usage of the 

 horse breaker, where the dead portion, as soon as it became loose 

 enough, was removed, and the part healed. I have removed half of 

 the Navicular bone and wing of the cofiin bone, also a portion of the 

 shank — Metatarsal — bone with success ; immediately the dead portion 

 is removed, the discharge ceases, and the place soon heals up. It 

 must be dressed with antiseptics (and nothing is better than a weak 

 solution of Hydrochloric Acid), and interfered with as little as 

 possible, in order to let it mend. At times the dead portion cannot 

 be got at to remove, and it then becomes sequestrated by healthy 

 bony matter being thrown out, and enveloping the dead portion ; but 

 this is a long process. 



