166 WOUND TREATMENT 



be, however, some infection which results in signs of irri- 

 tation, such as swelling of the joint, increased synovial 

 fluid, or tenderness on palpation. If the infection is 

 severe there will be edema, fever as high as 104 to 105 

 degrees, with pulse and respiration increased. The pa- 

 tient holds the swollen, painful articulation in a posi- 

 tion to relieve the pain as much as possible, touching 

 only the toe to the floor. Frequent convulsive move- 

 ments are made with the leg, indicating pain in the 

 part. The tissues surrounding the joint are inflamed 

 and swollen, and there is a discharge of synovia from 

 the wound, which' at first is a slippery, transparent, 

 straw-colored liquid. Synovia may be recognized by its 

 tenacity if the finger which touches the fluid is slowly 

 withdrawn. This is a sure sign that the fluid has come 

 from a synovial bursa, or, in other words, that it con- 

 tains mucin. 



As inflammation of the joint advances, the synovia 

 is discharged in thick, heavy clots. After the synovial 

 membrane becomes infected, its secretion is greatly aug- 

 mented, and the discharge is a thick yellow mixture of 

 pus and synovia, which is thrown off in large quantities. 



The loss of flesh is exceedingly rapid, even though the 

 appetite remains good. Due to long periods of decu- 

 bitus, sore and infected areas develop on the skin over 

 the external angle of the ilium, the shoulder, and the 

 supra-orbital process of the head. 



The differential diagnosis between a suppurative ar- 

 thritis and suppurating tendon sheath is not always easy, 

 as the discharge from each has the same general appear- 

 ance and around most of the joints there are tendon 

 sheaths which may become opened more readily than the 

 joint. There is usually a difference in the degree of 

 lameness. The animal with open tendon sheath does 

 not ordinarily show as great pain upon movement or 



