On this matter there is little that requires to be said. Nevertheless, judging from what I see and hear of the subject, it is still necessary to emphasise the fact that no splint of any kind should be used after this treatment. Massage and passive movement should be used immediately, i.e. within twelve hours if possible. Voluntary movements should be encouraged as much as possible even at the cost of considerable pain. The only indication for the interruption of the movements is extreme local heat and tension of the joint; tension without material increase of local heat may be ignored. It must never be forgotten that the time during which adhesions which have been broken down are most inclined to re-form is in the course of the first three or four days after their rupture; it is during this time that free movements are most urgently called for, and this is the time that even now is wasted by some practitioners by confining the limb in a splint.

In difficult cases it is wise in the majority to give an anaesthetic again on or about the fourth day (not later), to be sure that the amount of mobility obtained at the first operation is really preserved.

In cases in which it has been found possible to effect only a partial breaking down of a stiff joint, the succeeding attempts at getting a complete result should not be postponed too long. A week is the longest interval which should be allowed, in the absence of special circumstances, between the first and following attempts.