636 
OPENED KNEE JOINT. 
very steep hill, by striking her knee against some bars of iron 
that projected from behind a cart that preceded her. 
I was obliged to apply a ligature above and below, before I could 
control the bleeding. When I had removed the bandages that sur¬ 
rounded the knee, by means of assiduously washing all the coagu¬ 
lated blood, the knee presented an appearance similar to what 
might have been expected if it had been frequently struck with a 
blunt chisel. On more close examination, it was evident that 
tlie capsular ligament was lacerated. Synovia was flowing from 
between the two rows of bones ; the brachial vein was torn open, 
and there were numerous other lacerations. I applied the actual 
cautery to the ligament and the vein; then, with the aid of ad¬ 
hesive plaster, I adjusted the lips of the wound, and, by means 
of a long bandage and splints, prevented the possibility of the 
mare bending that joint. A large poultice of linseed meal was 
applied over all. Though apparently a considerable quantity of 
blood had been lost, yet the animal was in a high state of ex¬ 
citement ; pulse 60, and very strong : I therefore abstracted eight 
pounds of blood from the jugular, and gave aloes Barb.3ij, antim. 
tart. 3j, pulv. digitalis sj, in a ball with honey; repeating the ball 
six hours afterwards. 
—The limb was swelled, but not painful when touched ; 
pulse 55; bowels confined; urine high coloured. The patient 
was very restless; she had gruel to drink; and very little hay. 
The medicine was continued, and the poultice renewed. 
14^/f.—Bowels open ; pulse 40; the patient much improved. 
V^th .—Not so well; considerable degree of fever: she had 
not eaten her night^s feed ; pulse 58, hard and wiry. I abstracted 
seven pounds of blood, and ordered antim. tart. 3j, pulv. digita¬ 
lis 3iss, potassse nit. 3iij, in two pints of linseed gruel, and to 
be repeated every four hours. 
. \Qth .—Much better; pulse 50, but soft: continue the medi¬ 
cine. 
V7th »—Great improvement; bowels regular; pulse 40; swell¬ 
ing quite gone. The bandage and splints were loose, and, on 
examining the wounds, I found that adhesive inflammation had 
secured the lips. I applied fresh plaster and bandage and 
splints as before, but discontinued the poultice. 
18^^.—She was in high spirits, and ate and drank well. I 
removed the bandage, and applied fresh plaster with a shorter 
bandage without splints, and gave her fifteen minutes’ exercise. 
19/A,—After being brought in yesterday she lay down (the 
first time since the accident that she could), and did not rise for 
six hours. From that time to the 26th she had daily exercise, 
and fresh plaster when requisite. After the 26th she was em¬ 
ployed in her previous labour, and went quite sound. I did not 
