Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-03-29

er discovers small WOunu Scdrcely
larger than a pea, and pays but little
attention to il. 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, lob to 1O6 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-
comes greatly swollen from bearing
the entire weight and strain for so
long time. The wound, which at
first appeared so insignificant, is now
constantly discharging thin, whitish
or yellowish fiuid-joint 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, discharging 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; bnt when Inflammation of the
Joint Is once fairly established the case
becomes one of grave tendencies.
Whenever punctured wound Of
Joint is noticed, even though appar-
emily of but small moment, upply with
out the least delay d. strong can
tharides blister over the entire joint,
being even careful to fill the orifice
Of the wound with the blistering ONT
ment. This treatment may be eff
fectual. 1t operates to perform cure
in two ways-frst, 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 III
acts to check or abate all deep-seated
Inflammation. In the great majority of,
instances, if pursued soon after the ac-'
cident. this treatment performs 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 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
febrile symptoms demand 1t. In the
treatment of open joints the chief aim
must be to close the orifice 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-
cines 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
a light physic and follow this up with
sedatives and anodynes, as directed for
confused wounds. Later, however,
give quinine or salicylic acid in one
dram 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
escape of synOvial fluid, "sinew water"
Where the tendons are punctured sim
ply by a thorn, nail or fork, after a
thorough exploration for any remain
ing foreign substance, treat the wound
with the fiour-and-alum paste, ban
dages, ETC., as for open joint. Should
the skin and tendons be divided, the
case is even more serious and is often
incurable. There is always a large
bed of granulations (proud flesh) at
the seat of injury, and a thickening
more or less pronounced remains
When the back tendons of the leg are
severed, apply at once a high-heel
shoe (Which is to be gradually low
cred as healing advances) and bandage
firmly with compress moistened with
ten-grain chloride of zinc solution