52 
JUNIUS H. WATTLES. 
The question to be answered was: Can a remedy or agent 
of any sort be injected into an articulation, that will produce an 
acute artificial inflammation, with the rapid deposit of bone cells 
necessary to form an anchylosis, and that will not cause sup¬ 
puration or some other complication or condition, which will be 
worse than the original disease ? The points in question were 
considered by us, with all of the misgivings and fear of ridicule 
that a student attending college, and a gentleman in practice 
who had never attended any veterinary institution could have, 
as we felt that we were guilty of encroaching upon some of the 
traditions of the profession. The result was, however, that we 
determined to put in practice the theories which were evolved 
at that time, and I have done so with entire satisfaction to my 
patrons and myself. 
The condition we know as spavin, is in my opinion identical 
with the condition known as osteo-arthritis in man, and nearly 
the same general pathology occurs in both cases, the result de¬ 
sired, however, is not the same, as in man motion is usually in¬ 
sisted upon even in cases where the articular cartilage is de¬ 
stroyed, to prevent anchylosis, while in our cases we desire 
complete anchylosis in as short a time as possible, with the 
exostosis reducec to a minimum. 
Looking upon the process of repair that takes place in 
spavin as being identical with the process of repair that takes 
place in the repair of a fracture of bone, and that in both cases 
that absolute immobility is desired for the purpose of producing 
anchylosis, I have used plaster of Paris or starch bandages, and 
by readjusting them as the swelling subsided or they became 
loose from any cause, reduced the motion in a joint very materi- 
ally, a plan that I have followed with advantage in those cases 
where it was impossible to turn the animal out to grass after 
operating. 
It is necessary to give a brief resume ot the general path- 
ology of osteo-arthritis, in order that my reasons for treating 
spavin hypodermically may be made clearer. 
There is first the injury whatever it may be, producing in 
