380 
WM. CUTTING. 
harsh remedies need not be applied, and can only be useful in 
neglected and exceptional cases. 
One of the most common of joint wounds in London is the broken 
knee—in this country it is the least common. I have seen it treated 
different ways: one method, and perhaps the most common, was to 
cleanse the wound with tepid water, dress with tincture of myrrh and 
aloes, apply a compress of fine tow or cotton, and bandage with a figure 
of eight bandage ; others would use digestive ointment, such as the yel¬ 
low basilicon or resin ointment. While I was an apprentice I saw a 
badly broken knee treated with white turnip poultices entirely, and a 
very good cure made. 
For the treatment of joint wounds it is important to take into con¬ 
sideration certain facts. 
The first is the absolute necessity of closing the joint wound as 
soon as possible, so as to stop the loss of the synovia. 
The second fact is, that if the synovia is allowed to flow unchecked 
the animal rapidly loses flesh and strength, and the wound will not heal 
rapidly, thus, according to this theory, the first thing to do is to form 
a plug by coagulating the synovia, the next apply a compress so as to 
bring the edges of the wound together; third, counter irritation, so as to 
keep the formative inflammation under control; fourth, attention to the 
general health of the patient. These points can be best met by first 
cleansing the wound ; next, dressing topically the edges of the wound 
with tincture ferri chloride, and dry cotton to cover the wound ; next, 
blister all round the wound with simple blisters ; I do not like the 
compound blisters, and but seldom use them—never for joint wounds; 
and next regulate the general health by administering a cathartic as 
as often as necessary. The use of the sling is imperative in severe and 
especially the larger joint wounds, as the animal must be kept as still as 
possible. 
CASE. 
The brothers Doyle, farmers of Pitsford, in this county, were at 
work harrowing a piece of land with a spirited team of bay horses, the 
fore part of May, 1876. By accident the harrows were tipped up and 
struck one of the horses, laying open the skin and integuments to the 
tendons, tearing the skin crosswise on the outside of the rear hind leg 
the length of the wound perpendicularly about six or eight inches, 
midway between the hock and fetlock, and wounding the hock of the 
off leg in several places. The Mendon horse doctor was employed' to 
attend him, and did so for about three weeks. During his attendance the 
