INFLAMMATION OF THE BURSA OF THE FLEXOR PEDIS. 
551 
6 or 8 inches below and as far above the knee-joint (fig. 202). As a 
rule, the swelling appears on the outer side of the joint, both above and 
below, but in the latter situation may involve the inside ; in the former 
it is often as large as a child’s head, in the metacarpal region usually 
smaller. Palpation reveals the connection between the different parts. 
Whilst, then, the chronic form appears as a fluctuating swelling in 
the region covered by the sheaths of the tendons, and is neither 
accompanied by lameness nor pain, the acute variety shows the 
following symptoms:— 
(1) Marked lameness; the limb is held stiffly, and is incompletely 
extended. 
(2) Increased warmth; pain on pressure ; more or less firm, hard 
swelling, which surrounds the entire joint, and extends for some 
distance beyond it. In purulent inflammation, periarticular abscesses 
may form. 
(3) Discharge from the wound of large quantities of synovia, after¬ 
wards mixed with pus (then appearing of a sfcraw-yellow colour), 
sometimes with necrotic fibres of the flexor tendon. 
(4) Usually fever; in septic disease, the temperature may be very 
high. 
Course. The acute form generally takes an unfavourable course, and 
when caused by extension of septic cellulitis or by wounds, is always 
dangerous ; little can then be done, and slaughter is advisable. The 
appearance of fever is, therefore, always threatening. Simple inflam¬ 
mation is less serious, and recovery commonly occurs, though some 
swelling may be left. Though more difficult to treat, the chronic form, 
associated with formation of large swellings, does not as a rule interfere 
with the animal’s working powers. 
Treatment. In the chronic form blisters or firing may be tried, but 
are rarely successful. Nor is compression or massage of much service. 
If thought desirable, bandages may be firmly applied above and below 
the joint, and changed from time to time. Better results, however, 
attend the injection of weak iodine, sublimate or carbolic solution after 
the synovial sac has been emptied with a fine trochar or aspirating 
needle. When the tendon sheaths are wounded, every effort must be 
made to render the parts aseptic, and after inserting sutures, a dressing 
must be applied. In purulent synovitis, the bursa may be frequently 
rinsed out with antiseptics, though such treatment is seldom successful. 
The horse must, of course, be slung. Where an antiseptic dressing 
cannot be applied, the parts may be permanently irrigated with boiled 
water or antiseptics. If performed cautiously, there is little danger in 
puncturing the swelling and giving exit to contents, though the gain is 
slight, but particular care should be taken not to make large incisions, 
