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Qpvtes fiavorably and leaves the animal with a comparatively sound and 

 useful joiut. There are cases, however, which terminate in no more 

 fiivorable a result than the union of the bones and occlusion of the 

 joint, to form an anchylosis, which is scarcely a condition to justify a 

 high degree of satisfaction, since it insures a permanent lameness with 

 very little capacity for usefulness. 



Appreciating nOw the dangers associated with all wounds of articu- 

 lations, however simple and apparently slight, and how serious and 

 troublesome are the complications which are likely to arise during their 

 progress and treatment, we are prepared to understand and realize the 

 necessity and the value of early and prompt attention upon their dis- 

 covery and diagnosis. 



For simple bruises, like those which appear in the form of broken 

 knees, or of carpitis, simple remedies, such as warm fomentations or 

 cold water applications and compresses of astringent mixtures, suggest 

 themselves at once. Injuries of a more complicated character, as lacer- 

 ations of the skin or tearing of soft structures, will also be benefited by 

 simple dressings with antiseptic mixtures, as those of the carbolic acid 

 order. The escape of synovia shoul d suggest the prompt use of collodion 

 dressings to check the flow and prevent the further escape of the fluid. 

 But if the discharge is abundant and heavily suppurative, little can be 

 done more than to put in practice the "expectant " method with warm 

 fomentations, repeatedly applied, and soothing mucilaginous poultices. 

 Improvement, if any is possible, will be but slow to manifest itself. The 

 most difficult of all things to do, in view of varying interests and opin- 

 ions—that is, in a practical sense — is to abstain from " doing" entirely, 

 and yet we are firmly convinced that non-interferuce, in the cases we 

 arc considering, is the best and wisest policy. 



In cases which are carried to a successful result the discharge will by 

 degrees diminish, the extreme pain will gradually subside and the con- 

 valescent will begin timidly to rest his foot upon the ground, and pres- 

 ently to bear weight upon it, and perhaps, after a long and tedious 

 process of recuperation, ho maybe returned to his former and normal 

 condition of usefulness. When the discharge has wholly ceased and the 

 wounds are entirely healed, a blister covering the whole of the joint for 

 the purpose of stimulating the absorption of the exudation will be of 

 great service. But if, on the contrary, there is no amelioration of symp- 

 toms and the progress of the disease resists every attempt to check it; 

 if the discharge continues to flow, not only without abatement, but in 

 an increased volume, and not alone by a single opening but by a number 

 of fistulous tracts which have successively formed ; if it seems evident 

 that this drainage is rapidly and painfully sapping the suffering animal's 

 vitality, and a deficient vis vitce fails to cooperate wi^h the means of 

 6ure, all rational hope of recovery may be finally abandoned. Any fur- 

 ther waiting for chances, or time lost in experimenting, will be mere 

 cruelty and there need be no hesitation concerning the next step. The 



