COMPLAINTS AND INJURIES OF THE KNEE. 
Ill 
composed of lintseed-meal. This must be allowed tc 
remain for about twelve hours, which will have at least 
the effect of acting as a fomentation to the wound, and 
assist in allaying the inflammation. When the poultice is 
removed, if the capsular ligament of the joint has been 
injured, then it will exhibit the synovia , or joint-oil, which 
manifests a yellowish, glary, transparent appearance If a 
doubt still remains, then a second poultice should be applied 
for the same length of time. Having ascertained the fact 
that the joint has been laid open, and the flow of the oily 
matter continues, and inflammation and gangrene follow, 
this may to a certain extent be alleviated by washing all 
round the wound, but not on it, with the following cold 
lotion :— 
Goulard’s extract . . 2 ounces, 
Vinegar ... 4 ounces, 
Water .... 2 quarts ; 
to be applied with a sponge, which should always be repeated 
before any other application, such as a poultice, &c. 
Prompt attention must now be paid to closing the wound, 
an operation which is only fit for the skilful hand of a 
regular veterinary surgeon. But in cases where a veterinary 
surgeon is far off, or cannot be had in proper time, the 
closing of the wound may be effected by a compress enve¬ 
loping the entire wound, and allowed to remain at least 
fourteen days before it is removed It must, however, be 
borne in mind that wounds from contusions of the kind 
mentioned are very different from a simple cut; as the edgey 
are irregular, and there is a consequent loss of substance, 
which can only be restored by the tedious process of granu¬ 
lation. It must therefore be evident that the less action in 
the limbs the better, as if those tender, new-formed portions 
are either stretched or bruised, it protracts the cure. 
