214 OPEN JOINT. 



vered with throughout the healing process. When 

 the wound has healed, if any hair be wanting, leave 

 the reparation to time, which in a month or two will 

 narrow the cicatrix, and thus conceal the blemish. 

 Ointments or bandages will but render the deficiency 

 larger and more permanent. 



Broken knees, in fact, are no more than simple 

 wounds ; and all the directions which have been given 

 as to the manner of treating those lesions must be 

 applied to these accidents. 



OPEN JOINT. 



Many a valuable horse is destroyed by this accident. 

 The ligaments of the joint being cut through, two bad 

 consequences ensue. The air has access to a cavity 

 unused to its stimulus, and inflammation ensues : the 

 joint-oil also, which was interposed between the bones, 

 in order to prevent friction, having escaped, the ends 

 press upon one another, and a still more violent in- 

 flammation is established, under which the powers of 

 nature soon fail. Therefore the object to be accom- 

 plished is to close the joint, and that as speedily as 

 possible ; in order that the air may be excluded, and 

 the escape of joint-oil once more prevented. 



The wound must first be thoroughly cleaned; so 

 that the part may be fairly examined, and every par- 

 ticle of foreign substance removed. This can only be 

 effectually done in the first instance, or very soon 

 after the accident has occurred. When newly opened, 

 the joint is not sensitive ; and the practitioner should 

 avail himself of this fact to make a thorough examina- 

 tion. After a day has passed, however, inflammation 





