sent, 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 becomes greatly swollen from bearing 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--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 infrequently the joint
opens at different places, discharging at first a thin, bloody fluid
that soon assumes the character above described.

_Treatment_ of these wounds is most difficult and unsatisfactory. We can
do much to prevent this array of symptoms if the case is seen
early--within the first 24 or 48 hours after the injury; but when
inflammation of the joint is once fairly established the case becomes
one of grave tendencies. Whenever a punctured wound of a joint is
noticed, even though apparently of but small moment, we should apply
without the least delay a strong cantharides blister over the entire
joint, being even careful to fill the orifice of the wound with the
blistering ointment. This treatment is almost always effectual. It
operates to perform a cure in two ways--first, the swelling of the skin
and tissues underneath it completely closes the wound and prevents the
ingress of air; second, by the superficial inflammation established it
acts to check and abate all deep-seated inflammation. In the great
majority of instances, if pursued soon after the accident, this
treatment performs a cure in about one week; but should the changes
described as occurring later in the joint have already taken place, we
must then treat by cooling lotions and the application to the wound of
chlorid of zinc, 10 grains to the ounce of water, or a paste made of
flour and alum. A bandage is to hold these applications in place, which
is only to be removed when swelling of the leg or increasing febrile
symptoms demand it. In the treatment of open joints our chief aim must
be to close the orifice as soon as possible. For this reason repeated
probing or even injections are contraindicated. The only probing of an
open joint that is to be sanctioned is on our first visit, when we
should carefully examine the wound for foreign bodies or dirt, and after
removing them the probe must not again be used. The medi