456 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS, 
becomes suppurative, the fibrous layer of the periosteum is loose from the 
osteogenous coat, a sub-periostic abscess is formed, sometimes a more or 
less extensive portion of the bone becomes necrosed. At the beginning 
of acute periostitis, one may endeavor to arrest the inflammation by 
cold. When the affection attacks a bone of the extremities, continued 
irrigation is a good way. In the very rare cases where pain continues. 
to be very acute, suppuration is to be looked for; this detected, an early 
incision of the peri-bony tissues and of the periosteum must be made. 
The after treatment consists in antiseptic injections in the wound and a 
blistering friction over the diseased region. If the superficial layer of 
the bone is in course of exfoliation, injections with weak solution of 
muriatic acid (1 p. 100) are advantageous. , 
Chroni: periostitis, limited, and very common, is ossif/ying, osteoplastic or 
fbrous. The first variety, which occupies the osteogenous layer and also, 
almost always, the superficial layers of the bone, brings on a more or less 
abundant production of osteophytes. It is that variety of periostitis which 
gives birth to exostosis, so frequent on the level of the insertion of 
articular ligaments in horses. Fibrous periostitis, ordinarily secondary, 
connected with a surrounding inflammation, is more peculiarly localized 
to the external coat of the periosteum, which becomes thick and unites 
to the surrounding tissues ; often, there is at the same time a slight sub- 
periostic, bony neoformation, in the whole extent of the inflamed ter- 
ritory. When the affection is yet comparatively recent, if the pairi is 
acute, cold lotions, baths or continued irrigation are useful. But one 
must not expect to control, by them, the bony neoformation. Massage, 
properly applied, associated with pressure, offers better advantages. Later 
on blisters, or firing with superficial or deep points, should be resorted. 
to. Periostotomy, made when the affection is still recent, may reduce the 
pain, when it is severe; it has but a weak action upon the neoformed. 
osseous tissue. 
Diffused osteo-periostitis, generalized to most of the bones of the skele- 
ton, those of the legs principally, is observed sometimes in dogs (Fig. 99). 
The affected bones are literally covered with bony growths, forming ordi- 
narily a layer of nearly an even thickness, hollowed with narrow depres- 
sions filled by fibrous tissue. We have made autopsies on two dogs, in. 
which all the bones of the legs were affected with these autogenic perios- 
titis. In the museum of Alfort, there is a skeleton where these lesions. 
are very interesting. In a case observed by Kitt, and where the histolo- 
gical characters of osteo-periostitis were missing, the author admits that it. 
was a case of bony hyperplasia, myopathic in origin. The disease is- 
rebel to all treatment. 
Traumatic osteitis, promoted by efforts, contusions, wounds of bones, 
