334 COMPENDIUM OF THE V'ETERiNARY ART. 



Of 

 V 



and ivhite i-itriol (vitriolated zinc) * : they oftea 

 inject some liquid caustic into the wound 

 with a syringe, such as solution of blue 

 vitriol. The earlier the actual cautery is 

 applied, the more speedily will it heal the 

 wound ; and it is particularly desirable to have 

 it applied before inflammation takes place in 

 the joint. The iron should have a round 

 point, and be applied when at a dull red 

 heat; the wound should be so seared as to 

 stop tlie discharge of joint oil. It often happens, 

 that after a short time an oozinor of synovia is 

 asain observed : in such cases the iron must 

 be again applied, and repeated if necessary 

 several times. I have sometimes succeeded 

 ultimately, though the iron had been applied 



* I have heard a farrier boast of possessing a receijit for a 

 jo'tni humour ; or, as he itrrned it, for "Killing a joint humour." 

 In small wounds of the interior joints, this man sometimes suc- 

 ( ceded, . Upon examining the remed^y, 1 found it to consist 

 chiclly of white vitriol, which indeed was the onlj? active in- 

 gredient. This, coarsely powdered, was put into the wound; but 

 as the uiau supposed it's eflicacy depended upon it's entering the 

 cavity of the joint, and subduing this formidable humour, he 

 of course took great |)ains to thrust it in with his probe. In large 

 wounds, lie generally succeeded in his attejnpt. and destroyed 

 cither the joint or the animal : but in small wounds of the lower 

 joints, he merely brought it iiito contact with lb<: wounded 

 ligament, and thereby often eflVclcd a cure. 



