HYDARTHROSIS. 557 
out leaving a blemish and without preventing the animals from doing. 
their regular work. 
“The therapeutic agent that I use is iodine in the following for,. 
mula: 
Tincture of iodine. ......... cece cee cce cence eens 100 grammes 
Todide of potassa......... ccc eee cece eee e ee ees 5 do 
Distilled watery sv-sc swgoedewwsa pave eeewscnoaeed 40 do 
“ The skin being well covered with this solution, and the hand pro-. 
tected, a friction of ten to fifteen minutes is made, and renewed twice a 
day. After each friction, the skin is coated with a greasy substance 
(lard or populeum). 
“ After a few days, the skin becomes parchment-like, the tumor 
softens, diminishes little by little, and ordinarily disappears after four or 
six weeks of treatment. I must, however, remark that it is hard to obtain 
the complete disappearance when there are clots of synovia deposited 
in the cavities.” ? 
In our hands, tincture of iodine has not proved itself superior to the 
other counter-irritants, but the contrary. Delrée has been obliged anyhow 
to rub it twice a day for four to six weeks. Blisterings have given more 
rapid and at least as satisfactory results. In our clinic we use almost 
exclusively simple blister ointment, the mercurial or the bi-iodide of 
mercury: their action is strong and without severe itching. 
Blisters and tincture of iodine can be used alternately. “ Often,’” 
says Lafosse, “ after the use of a blister, I make the scabs drop by rub- - 
bing them with oil of iodine or an alterative ointment, then I prescribe 
one friction of tincture of iodine for four or five mornings in succession, 
to be done over again if the recovery is not complete.” The same 
author has obtained good results with plasters made of pitch, turpen- 
tine and wax, applied warm over the synovial tumors. This treatment . 
produces derivation and immobilization ; it also makes a regular and 
lasting compression over the synovial tumor, which is very beneficial. 
The nature of the blistering agent has not the importance that has been 
attributed to it. A simple coating of the hair with a brush, by a blister, 
gives little or no effect ; a stiff friction, properly made, will produce bene- 
ficial results. From the sixth to the eighth day, hot-water lotions are. 
made to soften and wash off the scabs; douches, massage, compres- 
sion do the rest. 
With large, old, indurated hydarthrosis, cauterization must be resorted. 
to. Instead of superficial points firing, we prefer that in lines, in fine 
points or in needles. The accidents of arthritis spoken of are due, not . 
1 Delrée, Annal de Med. Vet., 1864, p, 456. 
