THE HOUSE ON A JOURNEY 167 



When the capsule of the joint is uninjured, and the flap 

 of skin which covered the wounded part still remains, some 

 veterinary surgeons have recommended that it be cut off, 

 and the wound dressed with Friar's balsam, which is a 

 strong stimulant. This treatment can scarcely be vindicated 

 by sound judgment. We should advise to lay the flap down 

 as neatly as possible, and retain it in its proper position by 

 a single point of suture at its least supported part, where 

 the cut portion was large and but loosely attached, or by 

 strips of adhesive plaster, together with a compress and 

 bandage. These latter keep constantly wetted witii goulard 

 lotion. 



Where the skin is entirely removed, the best application, 

 after fomentations with hot water, is a soft and warm 

 linseed-meal poultice, which should be removed every four 

 hours until the inflammation subsides. You may also, in 

 every case, give a gentle dose of physic, and no other food 

 for the first few days than bran mashes and hay. 



When the inflammation has been subdued, and granula- 

 tions appear, apply strips of adhesive plaster, neatly one 

 over the other, so as to make some pressure on the wound, 

 and bandage the leg very carefully with a linen bandage 

 from above the knee to the coronet. Several stimulating 

 applications may be requisite during diflTerent stages of the 

 cure, among which Friar's balsam and nitrate of silver 

 lotions, varying in strength according to the state of the 

 parts, are perhaps as good as any. 



Whether the wound has penetrated to the joint or not, 

 and whether the skin be hanging to the wound or cut oflP, 

 in every instance of broken knees apply a splint of wood, 

 of the whole length of the leg, to the back of the limb, and 

 confine it by a bandage. This is a precaution unattended 

 to by many veterinary surgeons ; but as it prevents the 

 injured part from being bent or moved, should never be 

 omitted ; for the quieter the state of the wounded limb, the 

 less will be the consequent inflammation, and the speedier 

 the cure. Where the injury is great, the splint should be 

 kept on for at least six-and-thirty hours without removal. 



Cold lotions and warm poultices have been mentioned as 

 applicable to diflTerent degrees of broken knees. Poultices 

 rather tend to hasten the process of suppuration, without a 

 slight quantity of which granulations will not be formed. 

 They are therefore to be used where there is no flap of skin 



