FOREIGN BODIES. 571 
gregation is attempted; success is very uncertain. Veedles firing has 
given some results. The /xation of the arthrophyte to the capsula, or a 
part outside of the articular surfaces, has been recommended. ‘The animal 
kept standing, with the fingers the foreign body is brought to the selected 
part and fixed, with a very fine steel peg. The region is then immobil- 
ized. After five or six days, the adhesion is perfect, the steel peg is 
removed. The articular inflammation resulting from this manipulation 
is treated by cold. This method has but few advocates ; it is difficult 
to find a “convenient spot ” to fix the arthrophyte. 
Fig 118.—Dry arthritis of the stifle joint. Articular surface of the tibia. c, 
foreign osteo-cartilaginous body attached to the synovial by «a peduncle.’ 
(From a photograph. ) 
Extraction remains the select operation. But it is delicate in animals ; 
to safely hold the foreign body during the incision, anesthesia is neces- 
‘sary, and the opening of the articulation exposes it to suppurative 
arthritis ; it demands a severe asepsy. Here is the modus’ operandi. 
After careful disinfection of the joint, the foreign substance is held 
fixed with the left hand or the fingers of an assistant. Over it, the 
operator incises all the peri-articular tissues in avoiding large vessels | 
and nerves. The synovial must not be open until hemostasis is made 
.on the edges of the wound, so as to avoid the introduction of blood into’ 
‘the joint. The arthrophyte may enucleate under the pressure of the 
fingers or be extracted by forceps. The edges of the wound are closed 
