24 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



te asepsis is likely to cause an infectious synovitis and arthritis 

 usually follows. 



A larger opening than is produced by means of an exploratory 

 trochar may be made into a joint cavity, causing escape of syn- 

 ovia as it is secreted for days and even for weeks and no serious 

 or permanent trouble is experienced in some cases. If the syn- 

 ovitis or arthritis remains non-infected and the wound, trau- 

 matic or surgical, is not too large, healing by granulation 

 occurs, and the discharge of synovia ceases. However, if synovial 

 discharge persists too long because of tardy closure of an open 

 joint, there is great danger of infection gaining entrance into 

 the synovial cavity, or in some instances, desiccation of endo- 

 thelial cells of the articulation occurs, in areas, and the reaction- 

 ary inflammation eventually results in ankylosis. 



A small puncture which introduces into the synovial cavity 

 infectious material of active virulence will cause an arthritis 

 that is more serious, much more painful and more difficult to 

 handle than is occasioned by a wound of moderate size, that 

 affords ready escape of synovia even through the virulence of 

 the infection be the same. 



Synovia is a good culture medium and the environment is 

 ideal for nuiltiplieation of bacteria; consequently, the grave 

 disturbances which may attend the introduction of pathogenic 

 organisms into a synovial cavity as the result of a puncture 

 Avound are not to be forgotten. The veterinarian is m no position 

 to estimate the virulency of organisms so introduced; neither 

 can he determine the exact degree of resistance possessed by the 

 subject in any given case. Therefore, he is uncertain as to the 

 best method of handling such cases where an injury has been 

 recently inflicted and positive evidence of the existence of an 

 infectious synovitis is not present. If one could determine in 

 advance the degree of infection and injury that is to follow small 

 penetrant M^ounds of joint capsules, it would then be possible 

 to select certain cases and immediately drain away all synovia 

 and fill the cavity by injection with suitable antiseptic solutions. 



This offers a broad field for experimentation which will in 

 time be productive of a radical change in the manner of treating 

 such cases. 



