WOUNDS. 527 
advocated cauterization of the external opening of the fistula, so as to-- 
produce a scab, preventing the flow of synovia, and assisting the cica-- 
trization of the wound. This treatment was tried in France. Mercier~ 
and Desmouliéres did not hesitate, when treating at the beginning of 
the disease or in full period of inflammation, to thrust into the fistula . 
an iron heated white. The results seemed encouraging. The observa-- 
tions of Pauleau, Gérard, Pigeaire, Dubois, Faure, Eisele, had a tend-.-- 
ency to show that deep and repeated cauterization could bring on 
recovery in cases where other treatments had failed. Renault called | 
this method “rash and irrational”; he admitted it only in extreme 
cases. The use of the red iron upon articular wounds gave rise to a 
disinfecting action which, in some cases, might be beneficial; but it was 
rightly set aside for methods less incendiary. 
Tisserant remarked that emollients and cauterization of the fistulas . 
gave only incomplete results. “ There remain swellings of the diseased’ 
joint, indurations of the skin or of soft parts, enlargements of the - 
articular extremities, often even exostosis. Against these, alteratives, . 
resolutives, actual cautery, etc., are used, and the treatment is pro-- 
longed beyond any expectation.”* The author recommended to abate 
the inflammation by emollients, then to use blisters in repeated frictions 
round the joint. Instead of this last, pointed (Remauit, Lecoq) or 
line cauterization could be used. Sometimes ten or fifteen days after - 
the application of the blisters the animal could resume work, As de- 
rivatives, numerous preparations and agents have been proposed, from 
the most complicated topics to the simple sinapism. In a case of © 
articular wound of the hock, Saussol, after a twisted suture, applied all 
over the joint “a coat of mustard diluted in vinegar; twenty days . 
after the animal resumed his work.” Some authors attached great im- 
portance to internal treatment. Tartar emetic was much recommended ; . 
Reboul advocated it as late as 1845. 
So as to obtain the closing of the synovial wound, every substance, . 
which, by virtue of its chemical properties, was able to coagulate albu- . 
men, was tried in turn. Burnt alum (Lecoq), alcohol and tincture of ° 
aloes, Rabel solution (Mercier), tannin (Caussé), salts of lead (Mazzino), . 
and sulphate of copper have been used with more or less success ; but 
it is no doubt sublimate corrosive that has the largest number of advo- 
-cates. Ina few years it supplanted all its rivals. Recommended by 
St. Cyr, then Dubois, Ollivier, Pierre, Dyer, Delorme, Romant, Payan,, 
from the first days that it was used, it became acknowledged as one of ° 
the most efficacious drugs in the treatment of articular wounds. Ina. 
1 Tisserant: Journ. des Veter. du Midi, 1845, p. 145. 
