92 
WOUNDS OF THE ARTICULATIONS. 
the fall of the eschar are not produced soon enough or with 
sufficient energy. 
En resume. None of the preceding agents have the efficacy 
of a vesicant. 
We may, lastly, mention the bichloride of mercury. This 
escharotic was employed, for the first time, in articular 
wounds, by M. Saint Cyr, now the Principal of the Clinique 
of the Lyons School. In his trial, he succeeded in effecting 
a cure of a fistula leading into the articulation of the lower 
jaw.* * * § 
Bichloride of mercury has also been successful in the 
hands of several veterinary surgeons. M. Dubois has cured 
a similar case.f M. Ollivier has with this caustic produced the 
healing of a wound penetrating into the hock.J M. Pierre, 
veterinary surgeon to the 5th Dragoons, has also successfully 
treated a wound affecting the articulation of the shoulder.§ 
We have likewise seen in the practice of the Veterinary 
Schools at Lyons, several cases of openings into the articula- 
tions, which we will mention hereafter, in which it has speedily 
produced occlusion. 
This agent may be employed at different stages of the 
treatment: it is sometimes used by being sprinkled upon 
an adhesive plaster, which is placed over the wound and 
kept there by a bandage. The escharotic soon produces 
beneficial effects ; it coagulates the synovia, and forms also a 
grey-coloured and thick scab, which adheres to the part for 
several days, and after its detachment, the sore has a great 
tendency to the formation of healthy granulations. 
The animal does not appear to suffer much pain from the 
cauterizing effects of this agent ; on the contrary, the move- 
ments of the affected part soon give evidence of a favorable 
state of things. This treatment generally prevents purulent 
arthritis, instead of exciting it, as might be expected. 
We have not mentioned camphorated paste, ’which was 
formerly considered as a panacea in the treatment of articular 
wounds. Its use is now nearly abandoned, and justly so, as 
it is difficult to understand how any efficacy could ever have 
been ascribed to the preparation. 
General means . — Whatever treatment is adopted, there are 
some general rules which should be observed. Perfect quie- 
tude is especially advised, and the placing of the animal in a 
* Saint Cyr, Journal do Lyon, 1850, p. 15. 
f Dubois, Repertoire Beige de Medecine V6terinaire, 1850. 
i Ollivier, Journal de Lyon, 1851, p. 366. 
§ Pierre, Recueil sur f Hygiene et la Medecine Vet6rinaires Militaires, 
1853. 
