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Diseases of the synovial sacs. — Two forms of affection here present 

 themselves, one being the result of an abuornal secretion wliicli induces 

 a dropsical condition of the sac without any acute iuflammatory action, 

 while the other is characterized by excessive inflammatory symptoms, 

 with their modifications, constituting synovitis. 



Synovial dropsies. — We have already considered in a general way tho 

 presence of these peculiar oil bags in the joints, and in some regions of the 

 legs where the passage of the tendons takes place, and have noticed the 

 similarity of structure and function of both the articular and the tendi- 

 nous biirscB, as well as the etiology of their injuries and their patholog- 

 ical history, and we now propose to treat of the affections of both. 



Windgalls. — This name is given to the dilated bursae found at the 

 posterior part of the fetlock joint. They have their migin in a drop- 

 sical condition of the bursaj of the joint itself, and also of the tendon 

 which slides behind it, and are therefore further known by the desig- 

 nations of articular and tendinous. 



They ai^pear in the form of soft and somewhat symmetrical tumors, of 

 varying dimensions, and generallj^ well defined in their circumference. 

 They are more or less tense, according to the amount of secretion they 

 contain, apparently becoming softer as the foot is raised and the fetlock 

 flexed. Usually they are painless and only cause lameness under cer- 

 tain conditions, as when they began to develop themselves under the 

 stimulus of inflammatory action, or when large enough to interfere with 

 the functions of the tendons, or again when they have undergone cer- 

 tain i)athological changes, such as calcification, which is among their 

 tendencies. 



\Yindgalls may be attributed to external causes, such as severe labor 

 or strains resulting from heavy pulling, fast driving, or jumping, or 

 they may be among the sequela) of internal disorders and appear as re- 

 sultants of a pleuritic or pneumonic attack. 



An unnecessary amount of anxiety is sometimes experienced respect- 

 ing these growths, with much questioning touching the expediency of 

 their removal, all of which might be spared, for while they constitute a 

 blemish their uusightliness will not hinder the usefulness of the animal, 

 and in any case they rarely fail to show themselves easily amenable to 

 treatm.ent. 



When in their acute stage, and when the dropsical condition is not 

 excessive, pressure by bandages, slight alcoliolic frictions, sweating, the 

 use of liniments, or perhaps a stiff blister of the ordiuarj' kind will ac- 

 complish all that will be desired. It will subdue the inflammation and 

 abate the soreness, and perhaps if the animal is not too soon returned 

 to labor and exposed to the same causes by which they were before in- 

 duced, the excess of secretion will be absorbed and the walls of the sac 

 strengthened, and the windgall will disappear. 



But if the inflammation has become chronic, and the enlargement has 

 been of considerable duration, the negative course will be the wiser one. 

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