453 



ing febrile symptoms demand it. In the treatment of open joints our 

 chief aim must be to close the orifice as soon as possible. For this 

 reason repeated i)robiug or even injections are contra-indicated. The 

 only probing of an open joint that is to be sanctioned is on our first 

 visit, when we should carefully examine the wound for foreign bodies 

 or dirt, and after removing them the probe must not again be used. 

 The medicines used to coagulate the synovial discharge are best simply 

 applied to the surface of the wound, on pledgets of tow, and held in 

 place by bandages. Internal treatment is also indicated in those cases 

 of open Joints where the suffering is great. At first we should admin- 

 ister a light physic, and follow this up with sedatives and anodynes, as 

 directed for contused wounds. Later, however, we should give quinine 

 or salicylic acid in one-dram doses two or three times a day. 



Wounds of tendons are similar to open joints in that there is an escape 

 of synovial fluid, " sinew water." Where the tendons are simply punc- 

 tured by a thorn, nail, or fork, we must, after a thorough exploration 

 of the wound for any remaining foreign substance, treat with the flour 

 and alum paste, bandages, etc., as for open joint. Should the skin and 

 tendons be divided the case is even more serious and often incurable. 

 There is always a large bed of granulations (proud flesh) at the seat of 

 injury, and a thickening more or less pronounced remains. When the 

 back tendons of the leg are severed we should apply at once a high-heel 

 shoe (which is to be gradually lowered as healing advances) and band- 

 age firmly with a compress moistened with a ten-grain chloride of zinc 

 solution. When proud flesh appears this is best kept under control by 

 repeated applications of a red-hot iron. Mares that are valuable as 

 brood animals, and stock horses, should always be treated for this in- 

 jur^', as, even though blemished, their value is not seriously impaired. 

 The length and time required and the expense of treatment will cause us 

 to hesitate in attempting a cure if the subject is old and comi^aratively 

 valueless. 



Gunshot icounds. — These wounds are so seldom met with in our ani- 

 mals that an extended reference to them seems unnecessary. If a 

 wound has been made by a bullet a careful examination should be made 

 to ascertain if the ball has passed through or out of the body. If it has 

 not we must then probe for the ball, and if it can be located it is to be 

 cut out when practicable to do so. Oftentimes a ball may be so lodged 

 that it can not be removed, and it then may become encysted and re- 

 main for years without giving rise to any inconvenience. It is often 

 difficult to locate a bullet, as it is very readily deflected by resistances 

 met with after entering the body. Should bones be struck by a ball 

 they are frequenily shattered and splintered to such an extent as to war- 

 rant us in having the animal destroyed. A gunshot wound, when ir- 

 reparable injury has not been done, is to be treated the same as punctured 

 wounds, i. e., remove the foreign body if i)0S8ible, and apply hot fomen- 

 tations or poultices to the wound until suppuration is fairly established. 



