10 SPECIAL VETERINARY THERAPY 



skin ; it must not be pushed through the skin at right 

 angles to it. 



For the next step in the operation an ordinary rub- 

 ber bulb and fine hose or a milk-fever outfit will suf- 

 fice. The rubber tubing is attached to the head of the 

 hypodermic needle and the cavity is inflated tensely 

 with air. When enough air has been pumped in, the 

 needle is quickly withdrawn and pressure is made on 

 the seat of puncture for a few minutes with the fin- 

 gers, after which a dressing of iodoform and collodion 

 is applied. If the needle has been carefully intro- 

 duced on a slant, no air will come through the punc- 

 ture. 



The results are obtained by the pressure which is 

 exerted by the air on the cells of the synovial mem- 

 brane, producing a degree of atrophy which inhibits 

 excessive synovial secretion. 



The air becomes absorbed in from twelve to eigh- 

 teen hours. The patient should be kept quiet for a 

 week. If the distention has not disappeared satisfac- 

 torily after the third week, the treatment should be 

 repeated. 



