DISEASES AND INJURIES OF THE LEG?. 205 



A meddlesome interference with the probe has often caused open joint, 

 when the original injury had not penetrated the synovial membrane. 



The constitutional treatment must be that calculated to lessen pain 

 , and irritation; a small purgative, combined with opium: 



Aloes 3 iij. 



Powdered opium 3 ss. 



Molasses sufficient to make one ball 



to be followed at intervals of four to six hours by one-half-drachm-doses 

 of opium or of aconite; and enemas of warm water, two or three times a 

 day, will be beneficial, unloading the rectum, and enabling the animal to 

 pass iseces without straining. 



If the wound heal by these measures, and the inflammation of the 

 joint continue, as in all probability it will, cold must be applied; and 

 the best method of doing this is by irrigation — that is, by allowing a 

 continual stream of cold water to trickle over the surface of the joint. 

 This is easily done by attaching an India-rubber pipe to a faucet, fasten- 

 ing the pipe to a convenient part of the slings, and carrying its free ex- 

 tremity on to the lame limb, and fixing it above the inflamed joint by 

 means of a bandage. If no faucet is convenient, a tub can be fixed in 

 the loft above the horse, or in any part of the stable above the level of 

 the inflamed joint, and the pipe inserted into an aperture at the lower 

 part of the tub, which is to be well supplied with water. A very small 

 stream of water will be suflficient. 



If the injury has been inflicted for a longer period than a few hours, 

 when inflammation is already established, and pus has commenced to be 

 formed, to plug up the wound at this stage would only cause the fluid 

 accumulated within the capsule of the joint to burst out at some other 

 spot. The application of the actual cautery, of hot lime, and of the 

 various caustics and astringents, with the view of coagulating the syno- 

 via, as recommended by many teachers, writers, and practitioners, can- 

 ^ not be too highly condemned; and it must always be remembered by the 

 practitioner that every wound which has commenced to suppurate must 

 heal by granulations; and that the more perfect formation of these goes 

 on in the deeper-seated parts of the wound — that is to say, that the heal- 

 ing must be from within outwards: the plugging of the outer orifice, 

 while pus is being formed, causes it to accumulate in the joint and sur- 



