Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-01-05

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This Is imperative, and II a good free
opening has been made and is main
tanned for a few days, hot fOmenta-
tons and antiseptic dressings applied,
the cure generally rs easy, simple,
quick and permanent. The horse should
be shod with a leather sole under the
shoe, first of all applying tar and
oakum to prevent any dirt from en-
terlng the wound. In some instances
nails may puncture the flexor tendOns,
the coffin bone, or enter the coffin
joint. Such injuries are always seri-
Gus. their recovery slow and tedious,
and the treatment so varied and diff
cult hat the services Of a veterinarian
will be necessary.
Punetured Wounds Of Joints.
These wounds are more or less fire.
Quent. They are always serious, and
often result in stiffening of the joint
or the death of the animal. The joints
mostly punctured are the hook, fetlock,
or knee, though other joints may, of
course, suffer this injury. AS the symp-
toms and treatment are much the same
for all, only the accident as 1t occurs
I'm the hook joint will re described.
Probably the most common mode of
injury Is from the stab of a fork, but
1t may result from the kick of another
horse that is newly shod, or In many
other ways. AT first the horse evinces
but slight pain or lameness. The own
er discovers a small wound scarcely
larger than a pea, and pays but little
attention to 1t. In a few days, how.
ever, the pain and lameness become ex-
cessive the horse can no longer bear
any weight upon the injured leg; the
joint is very much swollen and pain
full upon pressure; there are we'll
marked symptoms of constitutional dis
turbance-quick pulse, hurried breath
ing, high temperature, 1O3 to 1O5 de-
grees Fahrenheit, the appetite is lost,
thirst is present, the horse reeks with
sweat, and his anxious countenance
shows the pain he suffers. He may lie
down, though mostly he persists in
standing, and the opposite limb be-
NulAlto kAtullg ohOAANh 4AbAA bNAA LIE
the entire weight and strain for so
long a time. The wound, which at
first appeared SO insignificant, is now
constantly discharging a thin, whitish
or yellOwish fluid-jolnt oil or water
which becomes ~coagulated about the
mouth of the wound and adheres to the
part in clots, like jelly, or resembling
somewhat the white of an egg. Not in
frequently the joint opens at different
places, d%lscharging at first a thin,
bloody fluid that soon assumes the
character above described.
Difficult Of Treatment.
Treatment Of these wounds is most
difficult and unsatisfactory. Much
can be done to prevent this array Of
symptoms If the case is seen early
within the first "a or 4S hours after the
injury but when Inflammation of the
Joint is once fairly established the ase
becomes one of grave tendencies.
Whenever II p%unctured wound of a
emily of but small moment, apply with
out the least delay a strong can
-harides blister over the entire joint,
being even careful to I'LL the Orifice
of the wound with the blistering ONT
ment. This treatment may be eff
fectual. 1t operates to perform a cure
in two ways-irst, the swelling of the
skin and tissues underneath 1t com
pletely closes the wound and prevents
the ingress of air; second, by the SUI
perficial Inflammation established 1t
acts to check or abate all deep-seated
Inflammation. In the great majority of
instances, if pursued Don after the ac-
cident, this treatment performs a cure
in about one week, but should the
changes described as occurring later
in the joint have already taken place,
then treat by cooling lotions and the
application to the wound of chloride
Of zinc, ten grains to the ounce Of wa
ter, or a paste made of flour and alum.
A bandage will hold these applications
in place, which is only to be removed
when swelling of the leg or increasing
febrlle symptoms demand it. In the
treatment Of open joints the chief aim
must be to close the orifce as soon as
possible. The only probing Of an open
Joint should be when first the wound
is examined for foreign bodies or dirt,
and after removing them the probe
must not again be used. The medi-
zines used to cOagulate the synOvial
discharge are best simply applied to
the surface of the wound, or pledgets
of tow, and held in place by bandages.
Internal treatment Is also indicated In
those cases Of open joints in which the
suffering is great. At first administer
n light physic and follow this up with
sedatives and anodynes, as directed for
confused wounds. Later, however,
give q%uinine or salicylic acid in one
d.. doses two or three times a day.
Wounds Of Tendon Sheaths.
Wounds Of tendon sheaths are sim
liar to open joints in that there Is an
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