ing of the skin, and this laceration may remain. A more
serious case than the first is now brought to our notice.

Another time, immediately following the accident, or possibly as a
sequel of the traumatism, the tendinous sacs may be opened, with the
escape of the synovia, or, worse, the tendons which pass in front of the
knee are torn, the inflammation spreads, the joint and leg are swollen,
the animal is becoming very lame; synovitis has set in. With this the
danger becomes very great, for soon suppuration will be established,
then the external coat of the articulation proper becomes ulcerated, if
it is not already in that state, and we find ourselves in the presence
of an open joint with suppurative synovitis--that is, with the worst
among the conditions of diseased processes, because of the liability of
the suppuration to become infiltrated into every part of the joint,
macerating the ligaments and irritating the cartilages, soon to be
succeeded by their ulceration, with the destruction of the articular
surface--or the lesion of ulcerative arthritis, one of the gravest among
all the disorders known to the animal economy.

Ulcerative arthritis and suppurative synovitis may be developed
otherwise than in connection with open joints; the simplest and
apparently most harmless punctures may prove to be sufficient cause. For
example, a horse may be kicked, perhaps, on the inside of the hock;
there is a mark and a few drops of blood to indicate the spot; he is put
to work apparently free from pain or lameness and performs his task with
his usual ease and facility. On the following morning, however, the hock
is found to be a little swollen and there is some stiffness. A little
later on he betrays a degree of uneasiness in the leg, and shrinks from
resting his weight upon it, moving it up and down for relief. The
swelling has increased and is increasing; the pain is severe; and
finally, at the spot where the kick inpinged, there is an oozing of an
oily liquid mixed with whitish drops of suppuration. The mischief is
done; a simple, harmless, punctured wound has expanded into a case of
ulcerative arthritis and suppurative synovitis.

_Prognosis._--From ever so brief and succinct description of this
traumatism of the articulations, the serious and important character of
these lesions, irrespective of which particular joint is affected, will
be readily understood. Yet there will be modifications in the prognosis
in different c