60 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



such abnormalities than those of the extensors. Bursal en- 

 largements along the extensor tendons, besides being less 

 common, are also less serious. They never produce a chronic 

 lameness and will yield tcr treatment to which the others are 

 refractory. The more common Ones are : (i) Distention of 

 the sheath of the extensor metacarpi obliquis at the lower 

 third of the radius; (2) Distention of the-sheath of the ex- 

 tensor pedis at the fetlock; (3) Distention of the sheath of 

 the peroneus tendon at the antero-external part of the met- 

 atarsus. 



(Dropsies affecting diarthroses, although similar in char- 

 acter to bursal distentions generally are not considered, ap- 

 propriate indications for thecocentesis.) 



The operation of thecocentesis, as before mentioned, is 

 not a radical cure for these chronic, blemishing abnormalities 

 which, in fact, are generally classified among the incurable 

 conditions. It is, however, often very helpful as a prelimi- 

 nary step of a course of treatment aiming to banish them. 

 The distentions of the extensors may be lanced, then irri- 

 gated and drained for some days until the discharge stops 

 without any danger of complications, but those of the flexors 

 can not be managed with this same impunity. To set up a 

 painful inflammation, infective or non-infective, in the great 

 flexor sheaths by lancing or by injections of irritants, is too 

 hazardous to recommend as a sensible treatment for a condi- 

 tion that previously is regarded as trivia.1. Although such 

 radical measures are often eventually successful in reducing 

 the enlargement by entirely destroying the secreting mem- 

 brane, there is always a long and exceptionally painful period 

 of convalescence which many patients do not survive. 



Lancing the thoroughpin or the wind-puff is an operation 

 that the practitioner will seldom ever repeat. The escape of 

 the patient from death, especially in the case of thoroughpin, 

 is too narrow to take the chance often. Firing is ineffectual 

 and never satisfactory because it adds to the blemish without 

 permanently reducing its size. Blistering, cooling lotions, 

 compresses, special shoeing and rest do but little permanent 

 good. The resection of a part or of all of the sac would al- 

 ways prove effectual if absolute operative and post-operative 

 asepsis never mis-carried, but the great liability of infecting 

 the surgical trauma, especially during the convalescence, 

 makes this recourse analogous to the lancing operation, and 

 hence unwarranted in view of its relative unimportance. 



This leaves the veterinarian with no other expedient than 

 thecocentesis. The operation should be performed early; be- 



