335 
CASES OF WOUNDS OF THE JOINTS. 
requested my assistance. The wound, nearly as round as a five- 
franc piece, and about the same size, was situated on the upper 
part, and a little on the outside of the left fetlock before. Some 
half-detached portions of skin, separated by the blood, were seen 
near the extensor tendon ; slight extravasation existed behind 
them, from which a reddish liquid flowed; the whole of the 
denuded surface was covered with dirt and gravel, and which I 
could only imperfectly remove, after repeated washings with 
warm water. The lameness was not great. I removed these 
portions of skin with the scissors, and covered the wound with 
pledgets dipped in alcoholized water. 
26th.— The bandage was soaked with the discharge; the 
wound was not yet thoroughly clean; the fluid of the interior 
excavation began to take on the character of synovia ; the leg 
was swelled, and the lameness increased. The same dressing 
was applied as yesterday. 
27th. —The wound was of a vivid red colour; a discharge, 
evidently synovial, proceeded from the sheath of the extensor 
tendon ; the lameness was not increased, although the leg was 
hotter and more swelled. Dress with simple digestive ointment. 
From the 27 th of August to the 11th of Sep. —The wound 
had been dressed with the digestive; a slight suppuration had 
been produced; the surface was a little irregular, the granulations 
were exuberant, and we found, at every dressing, a clot of 
synovia which filled the inferior excavation of the wound. 
Sep. 11th. —The enlargement remained, but the heat and pain 
were removed. I applied over the whole extent of the wound 
a light pledget, powdered with calcined alum ; and I placed over . 
the excavation some graduated pledgets, which might compress 
the fistula. 
14 th. —The bandages were no longer moistened by the syno¬ 
via ; a very small clot could be seen at the bottom of the 
excavation; the rest of the wound was becoming on a level 
with the skin. The dressing was the same, with the exception 
of the caustic. 
17th. —The excavation was almost on a level with the wound: 
the edges of the fistula might be yet perceived, but they were 
much closer to each other. I applied one pinch of the calcined 
alum, and continued the same dressing. 
22 d .—The surface of the wound was level and dry ; and the 
horse was returned to his usual exercise. 
In all these cases we cannot avoid remarking the prompt 
diminution of the synovial discharge after the employment of an 
equable compression. I am induced to regard the mechanism of 
the healing of synovial membranes as analogous to that by which 
