274 
ON OPENED JOINTS, 
tin bed, has herself perfected the cure with those restorative 
materials inherent in every good constitution; so, by similar 
mechanical means adapted to the injuries of which I am about 
to tieat, I have had the satisfaction of seeing Nature effectually 
close several of the large complex joints of the horse, such as 
the knee, larger pastern, and even the hock. 
Ihe consequences to be apprehended from an opened joint are, 
hist, constitutional disturbance from excessive pain, occasioning 
quick pulse, symptomatic fever, and sometimes death. Locked 
jaw may supervene from pain, and irritation of the nervous 
system ; and, lastly, admitting these dangers may have been 
aveited, an anchylosis or stiff joint is frequently the result. 
The morbid structure of the joint, the ulceration of the arti¬ 
cular cartilages, &c., have been accurately described by several, 
eminent veterinary authors ; and, therefore, I shall not obtrude on 
your notice any remark thereon, but shhll proceed forthwith with 
a description of what I conceive to be the best treatment for an 
opened joint, more particularly that of the knee, hock, and 
pastern. 
. ^ * s proper to observe, that I am referring to those cases only 
in which the practitioner is called to attend within a reasonable 
time after the accident, and before injections of any kind, how¬ 
ever mild, in the form of tinctures, or lotion, or caustic, have 
been forced into the cavity of the joint; a practice which would 
mar any subsequent treatment, however skilful it might be. 
1 reatment .—Having washed the external wound of the knee 
with a sponge and luke-wann water, a silver probe may be gently 
introduced for the purpose of removing any particles of dirt or 
gravel within the wound. A paste is then to be prepared, com¬ 
posed of wheaten flour and table-beer only, which are to be well 
stirred together cold, and afterwards boiled for about five minutes, 
until the paste becomes of the consistence commonly used by 
paper-hangers. It may be then coloured by a small quantity of 
bole armenian, and applied moderately warm to the knee ; being 
spread with a spatula as thick as it will lie, not only on the 
wound, but all round the joint, and for some space up the arm, 
as well as about four inches below the knee on the cannon. A 
very thin light pledget of tow, sufficiently extended to encompass 
the knee, is to be applied, in front of the joint, upon the paste; 
then nearly half a sheet of stout brown paper in a similar man¬ 
ner, and a large cotton stocking, with the foot off, drawn well 
up over the whole. On the outside of the stocking another thin 
layer of the paste is to be applied, and a calico bandage, six 
yards in length and from four to five inches wide is to be rolled 
iound the part with very moderate but regular pressure; another 
