488 OPEN JOINT. 



3 Diet. — The diet of the animal should be entirely of a soft 



character. If in season, give grass or green clover ; or, if the 

 accident occurs during the winter season, allow boiled turnips, 

 carrots, and mashes of bran and linseed. Eor further instruc- 

 tions relating to diet, see Section YI., page 108. 



OPEN JOINT. 



Before treating upon Open Joint in its particular forms, I 

 will direct the attention of the reader to one or two matters of 

 practical importance in relation to it. 



Pirst, with regard to the term Open Joint, I wish the reader 

 to understand that I mean by it any opening made into the 

 sheaths and bursse of tendons, as well as into a joint proper. 

 Both forms of injury are of a very similar character, and they 

 are to a great extent productive of results of a similar nature. 



The chances of recovery to a joint when opened will depend 

 upon the following conditions, viz. — the size of the opening ; 

 the extent of the injury which may be inflicted upon the syno- 

 vial membrane ; the time which may have elapsed from the 

 infliction of the injury to proper treatment being commenced ; 

 the kind of joint which may be penetrated ; and the treatment 

 previously pursued. 



Openings made into the following joints and structures will 

 be more readily cured by placing a high-heeled shoe upon the 

 foot of the afiected limb,* viz. — injuries of the bursse and the 

 fibrous sheaths situated at the back of the knee ; the flexor 

 tendons of both the fore and the hind limbs ; the fetlock joints ; 

 injuries to the tendons situate within the hollow of the heels ; 

 the structures contiguous to the hock, the stifle, and the 

 elbow joints. 



The treatment of Open Joint should be as simple as possible. 

 Unless the joint can be made rigid and secure without the 

 * For proper form of shoe to use, See Fig. 26, page 470. 



