UPON THE TREATMENT OF OPEN JOINT. 379 
entered three quarters of an inch, I then withdrew the probe, 
requiring no better evidence that the joint was opened. But 
my determination to give up the case was met by entreaties ; 
the proprietor had returned home, there was the poor animal 
left for me to do what I pleased with, and surely I could try 
something. 
It was clearly then an experimental case, and as such I 
accepted it. Now when I take what is termed an experi- 
mental case, I always endeavour to save the life ; it is true I 
try a new plan of treatment upon such animals, but it is with 
no wish to destroy the life, or even to hazard the well-being 
of the creature placed under my control. I begin with the 
smallest dose I can have any faith in, and of the remedy 
which in my judgment is best suited to the particular disease 
or injury ; I thus adopt a new mode of treatment, but I do so 
with the sincerest desire for the well-being of my patient, and 
I always strive to watch and attend to these cases, so as to be 
able to change the treatment in time, should my judgment 
be erroneous. 
I sent to the mare three bottles, each containing : 
R Sulphuri c. Ether. ; 
Tinct. Opii, Jj, 
Tinct. Zengib, Jss ; 
Aquae Font., Oj. 
These bottles were sent under the impression that she had 
been shaken by the fall, and was depressed; accordingly, 
I ordered her all she could eat, every morsel of corn she 
could take, with a bran mash every night, as I gave no 
physic. Upon the foot itself I positively placed no bandage, 
I left the wound quite free and exposed. For this injury, 
under the impression that it must be bruised, I merely sent 
a lotion composed of 
R Tinct. Arnic. Mont., Jij ; 
Aquae Font., Ojss. 
and this a neighbouring smith undertook to dip a piece of 
sponge in and squeeze the sponge upon the pastern imme- 
diately above the wound so often as business permitted him. 
In four days the wound was enlarged and clean, the torn 
tendon was to be seen glistening in the centre of it ; I now 
changed the lotion for one composed of 
R Chlor. Zinci, 9j ; 
Aquae, Oj. 
and ordered this to be applied after the method of the 
previous one. Particular injunctions were left that the 
