92 WOUNDS AND BEUISES. 



evil coiLsequences. The health of a joint may, however, be retained even 

 after the free admittance of air into it, if prompt and strict antiseptic pre- 

 cautions be adopted. 



In the case of an open joint in which the inflammation runs an unchecked 

 course, the articular cartilages and the ends of the bones which they cover, 

 become ulcerated; the ligaments of the joint break down; abscesses form in 

 the surrounding tissues ; and the whole part becomes disorganised, with the 

 result of a hopelessly stiff joint. There is always high fever, owing to the 

 fact that some of the microbes in the pus formed in open joint*, secrete 

 products which act on the heat centres of the system. 



THE PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT OF OPEN JOINT are ad- 

 mirably summed up by Erichsen as follows : -r-" First, the synovial 

 cavity must be thoroughly drained; secondly, the joint must be 

 kept perfectly at rest, and firmly fixed ; and thirdly, the discharges 

 must be prevented from decomposing by some efficient system of 

 antiseptic treatment." 



TREATMENT. — If the injury be evidently superficial and there 

 be no flow of synovia, the wound can be treated as an ordinary one. 

 If, however, there be a discharge of synovia, it is safest to treat the 

 case as one of open joint. In this case we should first of all try 

 to make the part aseptic (not liable to putrefy), by removing all 

 dirt and other extraneous matter, and by applying an antiseptic 

 (p. 67), which we may do by syringing the wound a few times 

 with a 5 to 10 per cent, solution of hydrogen peroxide in water; 

 chinosol (5 grains to half a pint) ; or creolin or carbolic acid in 

 water (^ oz. to J pint). We may then protect it from the entrance 

 of putrefactive germs by several layers of antiseptic wadding. If 

 the wound is on or below the knee, it is well to apply cotton wad- 

 ding (as in sprains, p. 45) over the antiseptic wadding, beginning 

 at the foot and continuing the bandaging for a short distance above 

 the wounded part. The object of checking movement in the case 

 of a leg, would be promoted by placing a splint (Fig. 39) at the 

 back of the limb ; care being taken that the presence of tlie splint 

 does not give rise to unequal pressure, which would be apt to inter- 

 fere with the circulation of the part. Veterinary instrument 

 makers supply special splints, the use of which would prevent move- 

 ment in a fore leg, without the necessity of bandaging. This object 

 may also be attained by applying a cantharides blister to the joints 

 which we wish to make rigid for the time being. For instance, in 

 the case of open knee joint from a fall, we might rub in a blister 

 behind the knee and pastern; and about the elbow or hock, sup- 

 posing that either of these joints was open. We should of course 

 avoid allowing the blister to come in contact with the wound. 

 Immobility should be further secured, if possible, by placing the 

 animal in slings (p. 680). If any discharge soaks through the 

 antiseptic wadding, tiie dressings should be removed, an antiseptic 



