OPEN JOINTS, AND A NEW REMEDY. 
323 
and secondly, to offer such assistance to nature as the case 
may demand in the way of healing- and anodyne applications. 
I am of the opinion that very frequently the practitioner 
makes a fatal mistake by closing the opening into the joint 
before he has rendered it thoroughly antiseptic, for how of¬ 
ten do we have to contend with a high systemic fever, and 
general constitutional disturbances, with a hot and very pain¬ 
ful swelling of the joint, after it has been closed, which sooner 
or later breaks, and discharges a fetid pus. 
In this stage the animal rapidly becomes emaciated, weak, 
and usually quickly succumbs from nervous prostration, as 
a sequel of the pain caused by the suppurating process going 
on within the joint. 
I can conceive of nothing but failure for the practitioner 
who so ignores the teaching of modern surgery as to en¬ 
deavor to immediately close the opening of the joint, not¬ 
withstanding the teachings of Prof. Williams. 
I have had the best results in treating this affection by in¬ 
jecting into the joints, two or three times a day, a solution of 
corrosive sublimate, one part to 500-1000 parts of water. 
This does not materially interfere with the secreting 
action of the synovial membrane, but causes some inconveni¬ 
ence by coagulating the synovia, which may be obviated by 
the use of a remedy to which I will allude further on in this 
paper. 
To the external portion of the wound I usually apply the 
white lotion, and when the pain is excessive I have the parts 
bathed, for from fifteen minutes to one hour, with hot water, 
and then apply an anodyne liniment composed as follows: 
fl. ex. bellad., fl. ex. aconite, aa., oz. 2; aqua pura, oz. 6; 
Mx. Sig. Apply to the parts two or three times a day, as 
the case demands. 
Constitutional disturbances are treated according to their 
indications. 
I always expect to close the opening of the joint by the 
cicatrix of the external wound, having kept the structures of 
the joint in an antiseptic condition by the use of the subli¬ 
mate solution. Have never derived satisfactory results from 
the use of bandages, etc. 
