THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
687 
seems’by most to be entirely devoted to arresting the discharge of 
synovia at all hazards, which is certainly a most important object to 
achieve ; but it should not be forgotten that the injury attending 
its escape depends upon the attrition of the cartilages covering the 
extremities of the opposing bones, and that the secretion is in a 
great measure in proportion to the degree of attrition. If these 
surfaces, then, can be kept perfectly motionless, two important ends 
are secured; first, there is, in consequence of the motionless state 
of the joint., a comparatively small amount of synovia secreted ; 
and, secondly, the wound can'be treated on the same common prin- 
ciple which regulates us in the management of wounds generally, 
and with as much success. 
One of the cases of tetanus was brought here Oct. 3d, at which 
time the usual symptoms of that disease were existing in great 
intensity. The horse, a fortnight previously, had been under treat- 
ment for several severe wounds and bruises received in consequence 
of a fall : one of these wounds was inflicted on the supra-orbital 
process of the near side, and extended to the facial surface of the 
frontal bone, severely injuring it and lacerating the supra-orbital 
nerve. This, when the wound was dressed, occasioned intense pain ; 
and when the forceps were used to extract portions of bone, &c. 
which by the violence of the blow had become detached, the nerve, 
being occasionally pinched, caused the animal to writhe and twitch 
violently. Directions were given as to his treatment, but he was 
not brought back until he was affected with tetanus. At this 
time the wounds, except the one alluded to, were almost healed; 
that, however, exhibited an unhealthy appearance, and (from the 
injury sustained by the bone) emitted an offensive smell. The 
jaws being rigidly closed, and the case in other respects being 
apparently hopeless, the owner gave up the horse for any plan of 
treatment or experiment we might wish to employ. The wound 
was therefore dressed, and the horse kept for a day or two chiefly 
to illustrate the effect of certain medicaments; he was, however, 
eventually destroyed by the injection of hydrocyanic acid into the 
veins. The other case of tetanus seemed to result from a wound in 
the foot. For a time the symptoms seemed to yield to the remedies 
employed ; ultimately, however, they returned (although the animal 
had been feeding tolerably well), and he died rather suddenly from 
congestion of the lungs. 
I have observed the letter from Mr. Fisher in your last number, 
with reference to some cases of broken wind, mentioned as cured 
in the monthly report of the cases which have been sent you ; but 
I regret that I do not feel myself at liberty to comply with his 
request, to communicate to the public the treatment necessary for 
the cure of that disease. From the position I occupy, it is my 
