wie 
HYDARTHROSIS. 
again that the joints in which motions are most active are also tl 
that are more affected. It is, indeed, in the fetlock, hock, knee 
Stifle that they are most ordinarily observed. Lymphatism and here 
have been incriminated as cause. Certainly there are animals in w 
hydarthrosis occurs without being promoted by efforts, or hyperfunc 
of joints, but, without contestation, exaggerated work is the great o 
sional cause. Let us add that some dropsies have special causes. ‘I 
have been seen to appear during gestation, and disappear generally \ 
parturition, and without being serious. There are some which dev: 
after delivery, and are more serious than the preceding ones. Ag 
various morbid conditions, general or infectious, particularly rheu 
tism and distemper, may be accompanied by them. 
At the onset of some hydarthroses are sometimes seen a little h 
pain on palpation and a slight lameness; but in general the dise 
‘develops slowly, without producing lameness at the beginning. L: 
by little the synovial tumors enlarge, harden; the fluid, secretec 
abundance, may become the cause of a lameness resulting specially f 
. the obstacle its accumulation opposes to the free function of the jc 
At rest, the animal assumes a special position corresponding to 
‘capacity maxima of the serum. In old dropsies, with abundant e 
-sion, there is sometimes separation of the bony surfaces and a true. 
ation takes place. At the autopsy of a horse suffering from an old la 
ness of the hip, Vitet found “ such relaxation in the coxo-femoral jc 
“that the head of the femur would at times leave the cotyloid cavity ; 
return into it without difficulty.” 
With the exception of some rare cases, the diagnosis is easy. 
-each joint the synovial makes hernia in special places, always the sar 
which permits the differentiation between hydarthrosis and hygromas : 
-dropsies of tendinous sheaths. Sometimes the clinical physiognomy 
modified by the presence of one or more septums in the dropsical serc 
‘The distentions of one cul-de-sac may be wanting or = slig] 
-accused. 
The prophylaxy of hydarthrosis must be guided by the poner 
of the causes promoting them. Acute affections of joints (wounds, c 
‘tusions, sprains, luxations, arthritis) shall be treated according to 
indications we have presented; the active function of the articulat 
shall be avoided before the complete disappearance of the inflammat 
symptoms. The influence of exaggerated work, not in proportion v 
the age, the resistance of the tissues, demands the methodical train 
of young animals. A more judicious selection of the breeders is recc 
mended. “Males which are subject to hydarthrosis ought not prope 
to be used forreproduction. Females affected with them must be ser 
