669 
OPENED JOINT SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH 
BI-CHLORIDE OF MERCURY* 
By T. D. GREGORY, V.S., Bideford , North Devon. 
I HAVE forwarded you an account of a case of open joint for 
insertion in your Journal, provided you think it worth recording — 
not for its novelty, more than that I adopted a plan for its closure 
which is not very general : it has proved in this case, as well as 
some others, very successful. The remedy is simple in its applica- 
tion, and, moreover, based upon a chemical principle, inasmuch 
as we are aware that the synovia which issues from the joint 
contains a quantity of albumen, and that the bi-chloride of mer- 
cury, when brought in contact with it, coagulates it. Our object 
being to close the joint by forming a temporary plug until Nature 
herself shall repair the breach by the process of granulation, we 
have here an agent that will effectually accomplish it, chemically ; or, 
speaking of it in another point of view, the actual cautery is had re- 
course to in these cases by, I believe, the majority of practitioners. 
Now, the modus operandi of the agent alluded to is nearly the 
same as a potential cautery, without, I imagine, causing the animal 
to whose joint it is applied so much pain. But at times, when the 
orifice is very extensive (as in the case below), it is found a diffi- 
culty, nay, almost an impossibility, to arrest the discharge by the 
latter means. 
On the morning of the 12th of October last, my attention was 
called to a mare the property of Edward Reynolds, Esq., that had 
fallen while in the act of drawing a cart laden, from the owner’s 
residence to Bideford. On examination I found extensive lacera- 
tion of both knees, more particularly the near one, and various 
contusions about the head, shoulders, &c. I ordered her to be 
taken carefully home, and to have the parts fomented with warm 
water, and poultices applied. I saw her in about three hours after, 
when she appeared in a great deal of pain. I examined the wounds, 
and found the near knee joint open, and a copious discharge of syno- 
via issuing therefrom. I abstracted a large quantity of blood from 
the neck, and applied the actual cautery to the wounds. Saw her 
at 6 P.M. Synovia flowing as at first. I again applied the iron, 
gave her an aperient dose, and fomented the other wounds, &c. 
13^. — Eight A.M., found the synovia flowing as before. I had 
taken with me some pulv. hydr. bi-chlor. mixed with some simple 
powder, in about equal parts. I took a portion of it, and, by means 
* Corrosive sublimate was first used in cases of opened joint by Mr. Daw- 
son. See The Veterinarian for 1830, p.497. — Edit. Vet. 
VOL. XIX. 4 Y 
