484 BEOKEN KNEES. 



with a clean, soft liuen cloth ; and, upon the part 'where the 

 synovia escapes, dust a portion of the above powder every hour 

 for twelve or fourteen hours in succession, — during which time, 

 in order to insure the stillness of the patient, secure its head to 

 the rack. I have directed the powder to be applied every hour, 

 for twelve or fourteen hours ; but it may be necessary to con- 

 tinue its use, as directed, for three or four days in succession, 

 ere the flow of synovia is completely arrested. Sometimes, 

 however, the desired effect is produced in a much shorter time. 

 Should the synovial flow be arrested, and the knee present 

 other proofs of a favourable character — that is, if the struc- 

 tures do not swell inordinately, and the patient moves the 

 limb freely and feeds well — all that the attendant can do is to 

 leave the injury alone. Time is necessary to allow the vital 

 force to restore the injured tissues to a condition as complete 

 as possible under the circumstances. 



Sometimes, when the discharge of synovia is stopped, and 

 the wound is all but completely healed, the knee will swell 

 considerably. This generally arises from the patient being 

 taken to work before the limb is sufficiently recovered. When 

 this is the case, the animal should at once be taken from work, 

 and Arnica lotion and cold water bandages should be applied 

 regularly, until the swelling and the temperature of the limb 

 are reduced, and the parts more efficiently restored. 



Treatment or Open Knee Joint. — Having ascertained 

 that the joint of the knee is exposed, and having also removed 

 all the dirt which may have lodged in the broken tissues, the 

 great object is to keep the limb straight until the natural 

 powers have so far restored the injured tissues as to efl'ectually 

 close up the breach. Now this cannot be done if the limb is 

 not so secured as to prevent the joint from being bent. The 



