OPEN JOINT. 489 



infliction of pain, the limb should be left entirely free, and 

 other measures of a different character resorted to. 



Some animals when severely injured, are fully conscious of 

 the necessity of being quiet. When tired of standing they 

 willlean against the wood work of the stall, and slide down 

 upon the straw as gently as possible; and when necessity 

 requires they will rise again as quietly. Let those having the 

 care of such animals look carefuUy to the shank of the head 

 collar, and see that it is of extra strength ; and also that the 

 ring in the manger through which the shank passes be firmly 

 secured to the bottom of the manger. The shank, when firmly 

 tied, will aid the animal materially to rise from the ground ; 

 indeed, without it, the act would be difficult to perform. 



When a joint is opened, or its structures are injured, first 

 wash the wound thoroughly, but avoid washing and fomenting 

 it for many hours afterwards. When the joint is kept con- 

 stantly wet, it is impossible to tell whether synovia escapes or 

 not. Hundreds of horses affected as described have been 

 crippled for months, in consequence of doctoring and fomenting 

 the limb when a joint was open. 



Teeatment. — The best remedies in general for closing 

 wounds of this character, are — Sulphate of Copper, Nitrate of 

 SUver, Lime, and CoUodion. 



Sulphate of Copper. — Nitrate of Silver and lAme. — Sulphate 

 of Copper and Nitrate of Silver wUl sometimes permanently 

 arrest the flow of synovia by coagulating it at the mouth 

 of the opening; and when a plug is obtained, and it firmly 

 adheres to the injury, the opening will gradually heal and 

 no further harm ensue ; but it is seldom that matters wiU 

 proceed so favourably — the pressure of the synovial current 

 (especially if the patient be uneasy) will force the plug from 



