OPEN JOINTS 21 



for a temporary period, only to go down again later 

 and die. If the surgeon will select for this treatment 

 cases that are, while moderately grave, still in good 

 general condition, or even fair, he can promise his 

 client good results. 



To carry out this treatment properly, it is essen- 

 tial to cast the patient, either on the ground or on the 

 table. The following procedure is then adopted: 



Thoroughly cleanse the region of the joint in- 

 volved, shave and scrub. Irrigate the joint cavity 

 for at least ten minutes with a solution of hydrargyri 

 chloridum corrosivum 1 to 3000 at body temperature. 

 This must be done with the utmost antiseptic pre- 

 cautions and great delicacy. If the opening in the 

 joint is in such a position that good drainage can not 

 be obtained, another opening is to be made surgically 

 at the desired point. 



Having thoroughly flushed the joint cavity with 

 the solution, for which purpose a fountain syringe is 

 best, it is again flushed for a considerable time with 

 plain sterile physiological saline solution at body tem- 

 perature. These washings are only to be discontinued 

 when the fluid comes out clear and free from pus 

 flakes or detritus. It may take a half hour of con- 

 tinuous irrigation to accomplish this : When this 

 has been accomplished the interior of the joint may 

 be considered surgically clean and it is now immedi- 

 ately injected with the following suspension: 



Hydrargyri Iodi rub 3 Iv 



Ol. Olivae Purae 5 vj 



M. Sig. — Shake before using. 



