OPEN SYNOVIAL CAVITIES.
Causes.—The pride of gentility, which apes what is not, and tries to pass off a horse with a ewe neck for an animal with a lofty crest. The quadruped, being in pain and constraint, necessarily trips, and cannot save itself from falling. Kicking in harness; running away and being run into.
Symptoms.—Air being admitted creates inflammation; inflammation causes constitutional irritability. Bursæ are attended with least danger when punctured; sheaths of tendons are more dangerous; joints are by far the most serious. Judge which is opened by the extent of the wound and the quantity of synovia released.
Treatment.—Exercise gentleness toward the injured animal. Wash as was directed for broken knees. Examine if there be any sac or bag into which dirt could have entered. If one exists, place a large spatula under the knee; then take a knife with a sharp point, but with its edge blunted the two posterior thirds of its length; guard the point with a lump of beeswax; introduce this into the sac and drive the point through the bottom of the bag. An opening will thereby be created, through which the pus and dirt will gravitate. If the probe enters the knee of the flexed leg, unopposed, three-quarters of an inch, push it no farther; be satisfied the cavity is opened.
OPEN SYNOVIAL JOINTS.
Treatment.—Proceed in the first instance as for broken knees. Then give a drink composed of sulphuric ether and laudanum, of each one ounce; water, half a pint; look to the comfort. Should the eye rove, the breathing be hard, ears active, and the horse start at sounds, hourly repeat the drink before recommended, till these symptoms abate. Then place in a stall and allow four drinks and two pots of stout daily. Use the arnica lotion as for broken knees, during the first three and a half days. At the end of that time turn the horse gently round in the stall, and let it stand with its head toward the gangways. Place the slings before the horse and leave the animal to contemplate them for half an hour. Then, with extreme gentleness, fix them; but do not pull the cloth up to the abdomen. Leave a pail of water suspended from one pillar, and feed from a high trough, supported upon light legs. Let the horse be watched night and day for the remainder of the week. When the animal is at ease in the slings, these may be heightened till the cloth lightly touches, but not presses, against the belly. With the slings change to the chloride of zinc lotion, one scruple to the pint of water; have this frequently applied during the day. It will coagulate the albumen and promote the healing of the wound. The albumen will accumulate as a large ball in front of the injury; do not touch it. Allow it to fall off. The cure is nearly perfect when it falls. When pressure can be endured, the slings may be removed; though the healing process should be confirmed before the animal is allowed to stand near anything against which it could strike the knee.
OPERATIONS.
Admit of no abbreviation; they should never be hastily undertaken; they should be only resorted to after time has been allowed for thought, and opportunity has been afforded for more than one perusal of the directions detailed in this book.
OSSIFIED CARTILAGES.