532 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
One of us has related a case of rapid recovery by antisepsy, of a ver 
serious wound of a hind fetlock. On the external face of this region, 
there existed a straight solution of continuity, ro centimeters long; the 
metacarpo-phalangeal synovial was widely open between the large 
sesamoids and the inferior extremity of the principal metatarsal. In 
separating the borders of the wound, we could see in front the metatar- 
sal and phalangeal articular surfaces, and behind the anterior one of the 
great sesamoids. The peri-traumatic surface and the wound were 
disinfected, irrigated with Van Swieten solution, and an iodoform wadded 
dressing applied. This was removed seven days after; under the gauze 
was found only a little reddish serosity; the synovial was closed and 
the tissues covered with granulations. A new dressing was applied. A 
month after, the wound was all healed. Treated with minute antisepsy, 
articular wounds would have no other march, if their purification could 
always be made perfect. 
Sometimes the wound is complicated with fracture of the articular 
extremities. Small splinters would not necessarily produce the fatal 
loss of a joint; but there is always advantage to destroy the patient. 
Resections and amputations are not admissible in our therapeutics. The 
cow with wooden leg which illustrates the cover of the Surgery of Hoff- 
mann will not tempt practitioners, and still less owners of animals. 
These operations shall be reserved for small animals. Conservative 
surgery is always to be preferred. By well directed antisepsy, dressings 
well applied, septic accidents shall be conquered. Ankylosis is always 
better than amputation, on account of the accidents this last is exposed 
to, and the great difficulty presented by orthopedy in veterinary surgery. 
The gazelle amputated by Laligant for a metatarso-phalangeal arthritis, 
which died from the operation; would have lived with an ankylosed leg, 
if frequent cleansing injections had only been used. 
It remains for us to say a few words as to immobilization. Almost all 
authors have considered rest of the joint as a very favorable condition 
to the repair of the wound, and have advised it as much as it is possible. 
In 1873 Degive expressed doubts upon its efficacy. It was known that 
horses suffering with traumatic arthritis of the knee had perfectly 
recovered, although they were obliged to travel some distance (Servoles). 
In various cases, where immobilization had been neglected, recovery 
had taken place as rapidly as when the leg had been kept at rest. 
Degive asked himself, “if immobilization was really useful or prefer- 
able to free motion, to moderate mobility of the articular levers.”” For 
Maris, “immobilization is always useless in articular wounds, the animal 
fulfilling this indication himself.” Laho and Thiernesse, on the contrary, 
continue to believe that this immobilization is one of the principal con-~ 
