570 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS, 
XI. 
FOREIGN BODIES. 
We will not speak here of the foreign bodies coming from outside 
(projectiles or any other sharp metallic substances) ; but only of those 
that develop in the synovial or the parasynovial tissues. Arthrophytes 
are rare in animals ; they have seldom been observed, except in 
horses. Goubaux has found them jn the femoro-patellar, tibio-tarsal’ 
and temporo-maxillary joints; Bruckmiiller in those of the shoulder 
and elbow ; Roloff in the hock; Stockfleth in the hock and in the knee.’ 
Méller has made them out in the knee during life. We have observed 
them in the knee, fetlock and stifle joint. The bodies exist specially 
in adults or aged subjects. Sometimes also in young animals. Stock- 
fleth has seen them in the hock of a six months’ colt. : 
If their pathogeny is still doubtful, it is now known that their origin 
varies. The riziform granules, which we have mentioned in tendinous 
synovials, in hygromas, seem to result from the inflammatory exudate 
deposited on the surface of the synovial. Free or pedunculated, the or- 
ganized foreign bodies are of fibrous, fatty, cartilaginous, osteo-carti- 
laginous or bony nature. Most often, they are connected with dry arthri- 
tis and all the tissues of the joint seem to be able to give rise to them. 
There are arthrophytes of traumatic origin which are only pieces of 
normal tissues torn from the epiphysis by blows, knocks or any other 
traumatic actions. They have been seen ready to get loose from the 
articular surface to which they were attached only by a single peduncle. 
Sometimes they are single, or again exist in various numbers. ‘Their 
volume varies ordinarily between that of a shot to that of a pea; ex- 
ceptionally they may be as big as a pigeon’s egg. Most of them are 
rounded, sometimes having one depression resembling a hilus. In ani- 
mals, foreign bodies of synovials have no relation to tuberculosis. 
These bodies may remain a long time in synovials without producing 
any disturbance ; but it happens—no doubt when they engage them- 
.selves between the articular surfaces, under a ligament or a tendon— 
that they give rise to sudden lameness varying in duration. All of a 
sudden, while at work, the animal goes on three legs; the lame leg is 
stiff, as if there was a luxation; there is great pain. These symptoms 
subside all at once or only little by little. In a superficial joint, pal- 
pation, carefully made, might permit the diagnosis. 
When ‘this is made, if there are serious troubles and interference 
is necessary, several processes present themselves: by acupuncture, 
several pricks are made on the foreign body ; it is irritated, its disag-- 
