INFLAMMATION OF THE JOINTS — MOOSE DEEIt. 25 
1 8th. — The salts have operated, but the animal gets worse 
and worse. Turn him into the pheasantry. 
20th. — He browses a little on the leaves of the trees ; but the 
hock is more swollen, probably from the little exercise which 
he takes in toddling about the pheasantry, and he groans aloud 
every time he puts his leg to the ground. We have tried 
fomentations and poultices long enough, and the animal is a 
little more manageable than he used to be. Mix together equal 
parts of the tinctures of cantharides and aloes (the aloes to 
keep off the flies), and rub them well into the joint. 
21 st. — He eats less and less, and still falls away. The hock is 
swelled by means of the embrocation. Repeat it. 
22 d. — The swelling somewhat diminished. Apply the tinc- 
ture of cantharides alone. 
23 d. — No change — no appearance of vesication. Repeat the 
stimulus. 
24 th. — No improvement — apply plenty of the tincture, and 
rub it thoroughly in. He will not feed. The struggle will be 
considerable, nevertheless give four ounces of Epsom salts and 
half an ounce each of gentian and ginger in a quart of thick 
gruel. 
2 bth. — The cantharides will not raise a blister on a hide so thick 
as his. Apply a poultice consisting of three-quarters of a pound of 
mustard powder and four ounces of linseed meal. Repeat 
medicine. 
26th. — I do think that the deer is better. He browses a 
little, and walks better; but no one has seen him ruminate. 
Repeat the poultice. Give again the gentian and ginger and 
gruel, but omit the salts. 
29 th. — The lameness has certainly diminished ; but there is 
a listlessness, debility, and want of all vital power about him 
which I do not like. Continue the last drench, but omit the 
poultice. 
31sL — Better — leave off the medicine for a little w hile. 
June 1st. — Still improving — ruminates, but in a sadly lazy 
way. 
3d. — The strength seems to increase ; but the local disease is 
not so satisfactory. A fluid can evidently be felt, and the hock 
is more tender. Let him alone. 
5 th. — The fluctuation is more evident, but I am afraid to 
puncture. It is a complicated joint, and the fluid is on the very 
centre of it. Apply the mustard poultice, and give gruel with gen- 
tian and ginger, as before. 
7th. — A gradual return of strength, proved by the increasing 
difficulty in catching and managing him. We could not manage 
VOL. IX. E 
