“CHRONIC SYNOVITIS—DROPSIES, 331 
cits various forms. If one is not familiar with the technic of : the needles 
-cauterization, he may use the method of Leblanc. The following mixed. 
‘method has given excellent results: ,. With fine points irons the skin, 
‘is fired through by two or three applications, and then with a red needle, 
-and with one stroke, the synovial sac 18 pesomieds in the half or the third 
-of the number of points made. i : 
For centuries, it was considered a good treatment, to relieve the drop- 
‘sies of tendinous synovials by allowing ‘the escape. of: the excess of synovia. 
From time immemorial, Arabs have opened the thoroughpins of their horses 
with the red i iron. - Notwithstanding the success obtained by Bosco, this 
process is dangerous, when the puncture is not made with a very small 
‘point. Some authors have , advised the use of, the bistouri. With it 
‘specially, one must take great. aseptic precautions, if he wishes to 
-avoid the infection of the synovial ; it js, after allia “ synoviotomy ” that 
‘must,be made. Capillary puncture, made aseptically , is without. “danger 5 
-one must be careful not to make it in the few days’ following cauttrization, 
‘when the points suppurate and, the skin is infiltrated; a careful i 
infection does not render the skin aseptic and the trocar may carry in 
‘fectious elements in the synovial. After. the puncture, the fluid often 
‘returns, but not with all the characters that it had! first: the thick synovia 
is replaced by a clear fluid, more resorbable. Anyhow, the pun¢ture can 
“be repeated and' completed by elastic pressure, blistering or firing. |: 
As soon as injections of iodine were recommended in human, ‘surgery, 
‘Leblanc and Thierry tried them in animals. If they have been put aside 
‘for hydarthrosis, they are yet used in the treatment of tendinous ; dropsies, 
where they have given numerous ‘successes. Leblanc and Thierry, who 
-studied comparatively injections of iodine, vinous injections, and’ firing in 
‘penetrating points, have published the results of their observations . in 
1845. The solution of iodine (one part of the tincture in two of water) 
-was injected in articular and tendinous synovials of the knee, hock, fetlock 
and in several mucous burs. ‘The results were excellent, “We are 
authorized, from those facts, in ‘saying that, the injections of | iodine. inv 
‘mucous bursz and synovial sheaths of horses, can advantageously take 
‘the place of cauterization with the red iron, and that in the plurality of 
-eases this medication must be used first.” ae 
Those experiments were repeated by Bouley, Rey, Lafosse,.: Pressecq, 
‘Verrier, Barry, Festal, Abadie, Poret, Dupont and many others. The. 
‘new method gave-occasion for much discussion, and notwithstanding the 
influence of Leblanc, it is but little used by veterinarians, who have. yet 
‘great respect for synovial sacs. The rules of the use of iodine are well 
. described: by Rey.. For each, synovial, the place of. election is the. most: 
prominent part of the tumor; it is there that it is easier to penetrate. 
