LAMENESS IN THE HIND LEG 221 



large areas on the lateral patellar region and because of subse- 

 quent sloughing of tissue due to infection as well as to the man- 

 ner in which such wounds are inflicted, septic arthritis subse- 

 quently occurs. Penetrant wounds, such as may be caused by a 

 fork tine may not result in infection; if infectious material is 

 introduced an infectious arthritis does not necessarily follow, 

 though such cases should be considered as serious from the out- 

 set. ^ ^' 



Symptomatology. — The pathognomonic symptom of open 

 stifle jouit is the profuse escape of synovia, indicating perfora- 

 tion of the synovial capsule; by means of a probe the wound 

 may be explored in a way that will clearly reveal the nature of 

 the injury. 



After a few days have elapsed in cases where considerable 

 infection has taken place, there is manifestation of pain as in 

 all cases of infective arthritis. Hughes^ gives an excellent de- 

 scription of the clinical aspect of arthritis Avhich applies here: 



Acute arthritis begins like an ordinary attack of synovitis. 

 In joints other than the pedal and pastern, there is sudden and 

 extensive swelling, which at first is intra-articular, succeeded by 

 extra-articular tumefaction, and accompanied by violent lame- 

 ness. The pain soon becomes intense and agonizing. There is 

 severe constitutional disturbance, the temperature ranging from 

 104 to 106 degrees and the pulse from 60 to 72. Painful con- 

 vulsions of the limb occur, shown by involuntary spasmodic ele- 

 vations due to reflex irritation of the muscles. There is loss 

 of appetite, rapid emaciation, the flank is tucked up and the 

 back arched. In from three to six days, the tumefaction around 

 the joint tends to soften at a particular place, and bursts, and 

 a discharge that is sometimes of a sanious character, mixed with 

 synovia, escapes. Great exhaustion at times supervenes, and 

 if the joint is an important one, the horse lies or falls and is 

 unable to rise. 



Treatment. — In small puncture Avounds the immediate appli- 

 cation of a vesicating ointment has given good results, but Avhen 

 infection has taken place to such extent that the animal mani- 

 fests evidence of intense pain, and lameness is marked and local 

 swelling and hyperesthesia are great, vesication is contraindi- 



ijoseph Hughes. M. R. C. V. S., in the Chicago Veterinary College Quar- 

 terly Bulletin, Vol. 10, page 15. 



