426 DISEASES OF THE HOKSE'S FOOT 



omitted. In our opinion it constitutes the very essence of 

 the rationality of the treatment. 



{b) Curative. — It may happen, however, and often does, 

 that this first injection of an antiseptic is unsuccessful in 

 13reventing organismal infection of the wound. In this 

 case grave constitutional disturbance and other untoward 

 symptoms such as we have already described quickly make 

 their appearance. 



The animal should now be placed in slings and prepara- 

 tions made for actively treating the wound with antiseptics. 

 Whether we fail or not, we have the satisfaction of knowing 

 that we have given to the patient the best and the only 

 chance of recovery. 



It should be remembered, however, and should be pointed 

 out to the owner, that with purulent arthritis fully developed, 

 with the grave constitutional changes it occasions, and with 

 the ever-present danger of a general septic invasion of the 

 blood-stream, that the human surgeon under such circum- 

 stances offers to his patient the alternatives of amputation 

 or probable death. With us no such alternative is possible. 

 It is either return tlie joint to some semblance of its former 

 usefulness, or destroy the patient. 



In this case we advise the injection of the original wound, 

 and also such fistulous openings as may have formed, 

 with the 1 in 1,000 sublimate solution. Also, in order 

 to avoid the sometimes abortive attempts of the antiseptic 

 pad, to maintain a condition of asepsis around the wound, 

 we advise the continual soaking of the whole foot in a cold 

 antiseptic bath. This may be either carbolic acid 1 in 20, or 

 — what is less volatile, perhaps more effectual, and certainly 

 more economical — perchloride of mercury 1 in 1,000. 



It has been our good fortune, even when we have seen 

 the foot almost detached from the limb by the devastating 

 inroads of the pus, to see the suppurative process by this 

 means gradually overcome, a reparative anchylosis set in, 

 and the animal restored to good health and usefulness, if 

 not to soundness. 



Once the suppurative process is checked and anchylosis 



