WOUNDS. 531 
of small size, clean and aseptic. It has been advised to enlarge the 
wound, to open the synovial freely, to asepticize the articular cavity ; such 
interference seems to us harsh in animals, where the purification of the 
joint is always very difficult. We are satisfied with the disinfection of 
the trauma and its occlusion with a dressing or a collodion covering. 
Let us mention the observation of Michotte, relating to a wound of the 
stifle joint, which was in this manner covered with several coats of col- 
lodion and healed in a few days. The application of a sublimated 
plaster, after disinfection of the prick, and a peri-articular blistering 
friction, form a treatment deserving keeping ; the bichloride of mercury, 
deposited near the synovial wound, acts on it by its germicide action ; 
the blister brings on immobilization. The success obtained by Rey, 
Dyer, Delorme, has shown the value of this process. The essential is 
not to enclose infectious elements. Before being “ barred,” the wound 
must be carefully disinfected. As remarked Tisserant already in 1845, 
if obliteration is efficacious, “it is with the condition that the synovia 
shall remain identical to itself; it is that the fluid, prevented from 
flowing by the clot, shall be, as the blood, normal and compatible 
with the regularity of the function; it is, atlast, that no cause, external 
or internal, shall have modified the synovial secretion in its quality, 
so that the wound can be repaired regularly.” ’ 
To prevent the infection of the synovial, or to purify it in its soiled 
part and protect it afterwards from the germs: such is for large wounds ; 
as for pricks, what must be realized? Acareful antisepsy of the trauma, 
by a free irrigation, shall be made; by collodion covering and several 
bands of gauze, it will be protected, after being dusted with iodoform ; 
then the region shall be immobilized in wrapping it with a wadded 
apparatus, with or without plastered rollers, or again by a blistering 
friction (blister, bi-iodide of mercury ointment, alcoholic solution of 
sublimate 1 to ro). When the region does not permit the application 
of a dressing, blisters are used, specially with advantage for narrow 
articular wounds. The “ derivative ” action attributed to them is falla- 
cious, almost nul! in its “useful” effects; but it can have a most bene- 
ficial influence in producing immobilization and closing of the wound. 
When the wound is very large, it can be reduced by a few stitches 
made towards its superior angle; for some joints, drain tubes must be 
applied. With our wounded animals, total suture is dangerous; if the 
asepsy of the superficial layers is not thorough, infected fluids spread to 
the synovial. It has succeeded, however, in many instances. Saussol 
has obtained a success by the twisted suture. 
1 Tisserant: Loco citate, p. 114. 
