276 DISEASES OF THE BONES AND ARTICULATIONS. 



ritis deformans, as a rule, occurs in the knee-joint, the elbow, and 

 shoulder. The prognosis of this disease is always to be unfavor- 

 able, because it seems to- defy medical treatment, going on until 

 finally the joint becomes a large unsightly mass. 



Therapeutic Treatment or Inflammation of the Joints. 

 In all cases, except those of slight synovitis, the joint must be kept 

 as quiet as possible. In simple cases the animal should be kept 

 in a kennel or in a room for several days. In serious cases where 

 no operation seems to be required, and there is no danger of poison 

 breaking through the joints, and where the inflammatory swelling 

 is not very great, it is best to apply the bandage of cotton and 

 dress over that with a plaster or silicate of sodium bandage, treating 

 it the same as a fracture. The author has obtained very good 

 results with this method in the carpal, tarsal, and toe-joints. 

 Albrecht advises that the joints should be rubbed with a thick 

 layer of citrine ointment before applying the dressing. (For 

 further details, see under head of Dressings, etc.) 



It is well, however, to take into consideration one point: that 

 the dressing must be in such a position as not to interfere with the 

 use of the leg. With the above treatment we generally obtain 

 good results in a short time. In the serious forms of the disease, 

 and where the dressing cannot be used on account of the position 

 of the joint, we must apply such local applications as will abate the 

 inflammation. As a rule, the best treatment is cold-water applica- 

 tions containing lead or arnica. In cases where there are great pain 

 and acute rheumatic inflammation of the joint, it is better not to 

 apply too much cold water, but use instead Priessnitz's compress. 

 Wrap the joint in a piece of linen which has been folded several 

 times, similar to a handkerchief, and then cover it with some imper- 

 vious object, such as oil-cloth, silk, rubber, or a woollen cover. If 

 for some reason, neither the cold nor the moist treatment is prac- 

 ticable, we must paint the part with tincture of iodine once or twice 

 daily, and the fluid must be rubbed into the skin by means of a 

 rag. The author has never had very good results from this method 

 of treatment, but painting with iodine produces better results than 

 any of the liniments, such as camphor or soap liniment. Massage 

 has been found to produce good results in many diseases of the 

 joints in dogs, although it has not been used very extensively 

 among canine practitioners. In chronic cases where there are great 



