HUMOURS OF THE JOINTS. 191 



Treatment of Humours oozing from the Joints. 



CHAP. XXXIV. 



HUMOURS OOZING FROM THE JOINTS, COM- 

 MONLY CALLED JOINT-OIL (SYNOVIA.) 



These species of wounds are but little under- 

 stood by writers on farriery, in general. When 

 the capsula, or ligamental purse, which surrounds 

 the joint, is divided, so that the synovia, or joint- 

 oil, flows from the wound, the first thing to be 

 done, in cases of this kind, is to close the wound 

 as soon as possible ; this may be done by the ac* 

 tual cautery, but it must be only on punctured 

 wounds, and those of a slight nature. This is 

 done with a budding iron, or with any smooth 

 pointed iron. Great care must be taken in using 

 this instrument, for only the external surface of 

 the wound should be seared. Immediately after 

 apply a pledget of lint dipped in the compound 

 tincture (No. 116, p. 176), and fasten it properly 

 with a roller. 



