214 WEST OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
that it may be quite impossible to prevent ulceration of the 
articular cartilage, which in my opinion is invariably the result of 
ostitis, and not the effects of synovitis. 
Treatment of injuries to or near joints ', also open joints .—In a 
loft over one of my stables I have a large cistern, twenty feet 
from the ground floor, connected with which is an india-rubber 
tube and brass tap, from which I can regulate a stream of water 
the size I wish to be directed on to the injured part. In cases 
where I apprehend serious danger I have the water so applied 
the whole of the day, and continued for a month if necessary, that 
is, if I see there is sufficient pain in the part to induce the animal 
to hold his foot off the ground more or less. Should the pain 
continue longer than about that time I then have recourse to 
blistering over a very large surface round the injured part, and 
repeat the blister as often as may be necessary. If the joint is one 
that will admit of a linseed-meal poultice being easily applied by 
night I employ one. Only in the most severe cases is it neces¬ 
sary to continue the douche for a month, but under this treatment, 
cases often recover which would not be cured by any other 
means. In the absence of a cistern or water-pipe, &c., I use a 
small watering-pot, by taking off the rose and plugging up the 
hole with a cork out of which there has been a piece cut to allow 
of the flow 7 of a small stream of w-ater. In severe injuries it is 
often necessary to put the horse into slings, more especially if the 
injury be to a hind leg. Also to remove all the shoes to prevent 
laminitis. 
Laceration of the fibres of the tendon or muscle of the flexor 
metartarsi is not an uncommon occurrence. The symptoms in 
severe cases are such as to induce the inexperienced to think that 
a fracture of the thigh exists in consequence of the loss of pow r er of 
the muscle. The leg can be completely straightened in a back¬ 
ward direction, the animal having no power of flexing it, there 
being no antagonist to the gastrocnemii, the tendon of which is in 
a state of relaxation as soon as the foot is lifted from the ground; the 
leg appears also to be quite quite loose and danging. The most 
' serious cases are those in wdiich the muscle is ruptured or very ex¬ 
tensively lacerated; such cases require several months* rest. I 
have known the injury to occur in cart-horses, carriage-horses, and 
hunters, as the result of some violent exertion. Generally there 
is not much swelling, but when the fibres of the tendon are 
lacerated there is more or less enlargement in the front part of 
the angle of the hock; when the injury is in the muscle there is 
more swelling, but higher up. 
Treatment .—Repeated blisters, with long rest in a loose box. 
Teno.omy is a very useful operation when properly managed 
and sufficient time is allowed for the new part of the tendon to be 
