410 BROKEN KNEES. 
Three days subsequent to the full establishment of suppuration, cut 
off one of the knots, and, laying hold of the other knot, withdraw the 
seton. Its advantages by this time are gained, and its longer stay, by 
hardening the opening through which it passed, would occasion lasting 
blemish. 
The reason of its insertion is thus explained. Where foreign matter 
is confined, no wound will heal; the orifice may close, but soon after 
abscess forms. This process is repeated until the suffering is long pro- 
tracted. Danger is generally proportioned to the duration of the evil, 
where wounds not of a mortal character are concerned. By the agency 
of the seton, the foreign matter is removed and the healing process 
thereby considerably expedited. After the above plan, all blemish may 
be lost by the expiration of the third month, and the once injured knee 
restored to its uses, being as fine as any other part of the body. 
Everything being accomplished as it is here directed, no attempt must 
in the first instance be made to poke out any particle of dirt which the 
probe may touch. The bagging skin being divided by the seton having 
been established in the sac, no further thought need, for the present, be 
given to a common but most vexatious attendant upon the customary 
treatment for broken knees. 
The animal should be returned to its usual stall and have the head 
“racked up.” Some cold water should then be procured, with every 
quart of which two ounces of tincture of arnica should be blended. A 
portion of this fluid ought, with a clean sponge of moderate size, to be 
poured into a saucer; the groom must have strict orders to take the 
sponge, and, having saturated it with the fluid, to squeeze it quite dry, 
allowing the liquor to run over the injured knee—after the manner pre- 
viously illustrated, as washing the wound. Two men are required for 
this office, which should be performed every half hour throughout the 
day and night for half aweek. The injury being thus made continuously 
wet, the cold produced by evaporation keeps down inflammation, while 
the arnica is a potent remedy for bruises and all kinds of contusions or 
lacerations. 
If at the expiration of the period named no swelling appears, and sup- 
puration seems to be thoroughly established by means of the seton, the 
halter may be released to a great extent, a cradle being merely fixed 
upon the horse’s neck; the animal will thereby be permitted to lie down 
and to enjoy its natural rest. 
But should the joint be much enlarged, should the part have become 
acutely sensitive, while the horse resolutely refuses to bear any weight 
upon the injured limb, then withdraw the seton, give the animal two 
pots of stout per day, and all the oats mingled with old beans which it 
