542 
INJURIES TO THE KNEE IN THE HORSE. 
dimensions, often yields to repeated friction with mild stimulants like 
turpentine and ammonia liniment or camphorated alcohol, but when 
large and of old standing is best treated by laying open the swelling at 
its lowest point, clearing out fibrinous clots, &c., inserting a drain, and 
injecting twice daily a 5 per cent, carbolic solution or diluted tincture of 
iodine. Gentle compression with a rubber bandage assists recovery. 
Needle firing has also proved successful (see Dollar’s “ Operative 
Technique,” p. 119). Failing success by these methods, excision may 
be attempted, provided the animal’s value justify operation (see suc¬ 
ceeding pages). 
Wounds perforating the skin require complete rest, to prevent formation 
of large cicatrices, and in addition general antiseptic treatment. Very 
careful asepsis is required where the fasciae are injured or exposed. A 
circular bandage provided with a dressing should be passed around the 
knee, being left rather looser above and below, and the animal placed in 
slings or tied up short to prevent its lying down. Sutures should be 
used where practicable. Wounds which cannot be rendered aseptic 
should be left open. Continuous irrigation with lukewarm dilute sub¬ 
limate J to 1 per cent, zinc chloride or 1 to 2 per cent. Goulard’s extract 
lotion is useful during the first few days, especially when there is much 
discharge. At a later stage dry dressings like iodoform and tannin, 
glutol, amyloform, boric acid, &c., may be used to form a dry scab, under 
which healing proceeds. Excessive proliferation may be checked by the 
occasional use of 5 per cent, chloride of zinc solution. 
The treatment of open joint calls for all the resources of antisepsis. 
Provided purulent or septic disease of the joint has not yet set in, the 
wound must be carefully washed with sublimate or creolin solution, and 
an antiseptic dressing applied; but when such changes have occurred, 
the only chance consists in carefully cleansing the parts and providing 
for permanent irrigation. This may at least be tried, and any special 
complications treated on general principles. The chief points are to 
immobilise the joint and observe the most careful antisepsis. In animals 
of little value, and in cases where there is great pain, further treatment 
is scarcely advisable. 
Where a valuable horse has, by falling, produced a permanent cicatrix, 
denuded of hair, it may be worth performing the operation proposed by 
Cherry, revived by Hunting, and perfected by Vinsot. The object of the 
operation is to permanently remove the scar left by accident, substituting 
at first a mere linear cicatrix, which, once covered by hair, is almost 
imperceptible, even to the trained senses of an expert. 
To render operation successful the strictest asepsis or, failing this, 
antisepsis is necessary, and for a considerable time the personal attention 
of the operator is required. 
