730 
ON THK TKEATMKNT OF OPEN JOINTS. 
to shew symptoms of slight hoove, which increased when he endeavoured to 
swallow his food or to ruminate. The alimentary pellet did not re-ascend 
to the mouth until after repeated efforts, and it had imbibed a great quan¬ 
tity of fluid, which was rejected from the mouth. Deglutition, also per¬ 
formed with great difiiculty, was followed by a hoarse cough. 
The oesophagus, the course of which, as far as the thorax, was earefuUy 
examined, presented at its entrance into the thoracic cavity a hard, indolent 
tumour, as large as a pullet’s egg, and which had caused this obstruction to 
the passage of food in either direction. 
An operation was resolved on. The animal was thrown on his back, and 
his four legs tied together. A longitudinal incision was then made through 
the skin, in the direction of the course of the oesophagus, and which brought 
to light a fleshy membrane, ecchymosed, and of a livid colour. Beneath it 
was a scirrhous tumour, very hard, projecting into the oesophagus, and which 
the operator easily isolated and removed. At the end of fifteen days the 
animal was perfectly cured.] Y. 
ON THE TREATMENT OF OPEN JOINTS. 
B]) Mr. C. S. Green, V.S., Fareham. 
1 READ with great pleasure the late communications from some 
of your correspondents on the treatment of open joints, and I have 
been induced to add my mite. It is thus alone that the object 
which we have at heart—the onward progress of our profession— 
will be secured. The cases that have come under my notice have 
been opened carpi and tarsi, with some of the navicular joint. 
Where they were attended, as they usually were, with a great 
discharge of synovia, my practice has been, first to cleanse the 
wound with tepid water; after which I cut away such of the lace¬ 
rated parts as were not likely to unite by the healing process of 
nature, being careful, however, not to destroy more than was 
absolutely necessary, for that would render it so much longer be¬ 
fore the animal was fit for ordinary duty. I then dressed the 
wound with the compound powder used by Mr. Morton, and made 
as follows. Take equal parts of calcined sulphate of iron, pow¬ 
dered alum, and myrrh. Apply the powder to the wound with 
some tow, and place a pledget of tow over the whole: confine 
it by a flannel bandage moderately tight, and let it not be disturbed 
until the third day. I prefer a flannel bandage, on account of its 
elasticity, having found that where much pressure is used, without 
this yielding principle, the inflammatory action is increased, and 
extensive swelling, and perhaps sloughing, is the result—both of 
them evils very difficult to eradicate. The swelling should be fo¬ 
mented with tepid water several times during the day. The 
bandage should likewise be frequently wetted with the liquor 
plumbi diacet. dil. as described in Mr. Morton’s iManual of Phar- 
