280 DISEASES OF THE BONES AND ARTICULATIONS. 



Therapeutic Treatment. The first thing to do after an 

 injury has occurred is to thoroughly disinfect the wound and its 

 immediate neighborhood. Clip the hair from all around the part, 

 then wash it with a solution of corrosive sublimate, and, in cases 

 where the puncture is very narrow, clean it out by means of a 

 syringe with a 2 per cent, solution of creolin and 5 per cent, 

 solution of carbolic acid, or a 1 per cent, of corrosive sublimate. 

 If you find the object which caused the puncture was very dirty, 

 the wound must be enlarged and thoroughly washed with any of 

 the above-named solutions. The wound should then be closed 

 by means of sutures, taking care when stitching it up not to 

 include the synovial membrane or any part of the joint in the 

 sutures. It is well, however, in some cases, to place a small 

 piece of catgut or silk in the lower surface of the wound in order 

 to assist in emptying the joint. We then place the joint in an 

 antiseptic dressing and cover it up. 



If we have to deal with a wound that has been neglected and 

 where suppuration has been going on for some time, and the owner 

 does not wish to destroy the animal, we must enlarge the wound 

 at once, and all pockets, or sacs, in the joint must be emptied 

 and washed with a solution of corrosive sublimate. Any clots, 

 masses, or pieces of tissue must be removed, and the operation 

 finished as before described. In all these cases the animal must 

 have absolute rest, and the dressing be renewed frequently. 



Contusions of the Joints. Under this head we class injuries 

 to the joints which have been caused by compression of the soft 

 parts against the bones or from shocks, such as jumping or leap- 

 ing from a height, kicks, and where the extremities have been run 

 over by vehicles. In this we may have a series of results, such 

 as crushing or laceration of the capsule of the joint, with forma- 

 tion of hsemarthros, or a concussion or crushing of the bone with 

 little escape of blood. In rare instances we may see a laceration 

 of the cartilage. 



Clinical Symptoms. The animal shows great sensitiveness 

 and pain on manipulation of the joint, and, as a rule, carries it 

 in the air. There is a rapid swelling of the joint and cedema of 

 the surrounding parts, also a high temperature. 



Therapeutic Treatment. The treatment consists in cold- 

 water applications, if the position of the joint admits, renewed 



