36 
WOUNDS OF THE ARTICULATIONS. 
Articular wounds are not uncommon in dogs, being mostly 
caused by bites from other dogs. 
Symptoms. — These wounds are either simple or complicated . 
If they show themselves at first by only slightly marked 
symptoms, they are simple. The proprietor of a wounded 
animal often when seeing a wound of such an apparently 
trifling nature, and not comprehending the serious conse- 
quences arising from an escape of the synovia, allows it to 
remain unattended to, and he probably continues to work 
the animal, but at the end of a few days, much pain is 
evinced, which clearly shows the accident to be of a serious 
kind. 
The primary symptoms resemble those of an ordinary 
wound. The pain at first, although but slight, is soon fol- 
lowed by inflammation of the synovial membrane and arti- 
cular surfaces ; the suffering then becomes extremely acute, 
and the animal is very restless. Movement of the diseased 
articulation is difficult, and on attempting to give motion to 
it, the most intense pain is caused, especially when the 
wound is situated in any of the extremities. The animal is 
also annoyed with irritation of a very troublesome nature, and 
constantly endeavours to rub or gnaw the limb. 
One pathognomonic symptom is generally observed, and 
this consists in the escape of the synovia from the wound, 
which is ordinarily small and fistulous. This is at first a 
serous liquid of a yellow colour, which soon coagulates 
when brought in contact with the atmosphere, appearing of a 
ropy nature, and forming clots of an albuminous character, 
of a whitish colour, which present an appearance resembling 
gelatine. 
When these wounds are large, the diagnosis is easy. The 
situation of the wound, the loss of the synovia, and exposure 
of the cartilages to the air, admit of no doubt as to the result. 
It is not so when the wound is oblique or fistulous, or when 
there is a want of parallelism in the solution of continuity 
in the skin, and that of the capsule of the joint. 
The probe might be used to ascertain the direction and 
depth of the wound, but it is not advisable to explore it to 
any extent because it is likely to increase the separation of 
the tissues, and also because the indications shewn by a 
wound, whether penetrating or otherwise, are at the first not 
very marked. 
But escape of synovia is not always pathognomonic of 
open joint. It might be from a tendinous bursa. Some- 
times this secretion is so changed in character that it can 
scarcely be recognised. Fungoid growths, too, are often seen 
