INJURIES OF THE JOINTS. 279 



the amount of discharged synovia, as a rule, is very slight at the 

 beginning and of normal consistency. If the wound is not closed 

 immediately, it increases in amount and becomes thinner. In 

 some cases it is difficult to tell positively whether the synovia 

 comes from the joint or from the sheath of a tendon. In the 

 latter case, however, the amount of synovia is generally very 

 slight. Blood may accumulate in the cavity of the joint and 

 develop a hsemarthros. In some cases where there is hemorrhage, 

 the wound may be very small and close up quickly, or it may lie 

 in an oblique direction and prevent the escape of blood. This 

 flows into the joint and fills it up. Hsemarthros is distinguished 

 from serous or purulent secretions by appearing shortly after the 

 injury, and the absence of all inflammatory symptoms — that is, 

 at the onset of the disease. 



The other symptoms of wounds of the joints are acute sensitive- 

 ness, the animal limping and showing great pain, holding its leg 

 in a flexed condition. Generally the external opening of the 

 wound can also be distinguished. 



The course of this disease differs greatly according to the char- 

 acter of the wound and whether the object that caused it was clean 

 or not. Small perforating wounds heal rapidly, and the animals 

 limp only for a few days. In serious wounds where the joint has 

 been exposed, and dirt or other foreign bodies have obtained 

 entrance into the joint, the prognosis is less favorable. In such 

 cases we notice a great discharge of synovia. This is clear in the 

 early stage of the disease, but soon becomes turbid by tlie addition 

 of pus-corpuscles and fibrinous clots. It then becomes flaky and 

 finally purulent. At the same time there is great fever around the 

 joint, which is swollen very much, and the neighboring tissues 

 become oedematous, extending in all directions. We may see 

 numerous abscesses forming all around the joint or in the inter- 

 muscular connective tissue, and finally the animal dies from gen- 

 eral exhaustion or pysemia. 



According to the circumstances and condition of the wound, the 

 course may be much more rapid. The synovia becomes purulent 

 in a short time; septic fever shows itself quickly; there is a rapid 

 pulse ; the animal sinks into a coma, and dies from septicsemia. 

 This may even occur in slight wounds, if they have not been treated 

 properly, and where thorough disinfection has not been followed. 



