12 



should be taken rather deep. Do not sew up the skin alone 

 and leave the wound gaping below. Draw the stitches tight 

 enough to bringthe lipsof the wound nicely together. Avoid 

 drawing them too tight as there is some swelling afterward 

 that is liable to make the stitches tear out. In sewing up a 

 large wound it is well to leave a very small opening at the 

 bottom to allow the pus to drain out. 



Wounds should be sewed up at once as after a few days 

 the inflamation makes them very sore and it is a very 

 difficult matter to cióse them. 



After the wound is closed apply antiseptics freely, and 

 if possible bandage lightly. Dust on some powdered anti- 

 septic. 



WOUNDS OF THE FEET 



Wounds of the feet are the most common and the most 

 serious according to their size. They are usually punctured 

 wounds produced by the animal's steppingon a nail or other 

 sharp object that penetrates the horny hoof and injures the 

 sensitive tissues within. These wounds are particularly 

 daneerous to horses and mules in Cuba on account of the 

 danger that the wound may become infected with the germs 

 of tetanus or lockjaw and cause this serious disease. 



Whenever an animal is noticed to be lame the foot should 

 be very carefully cleaned anda thorough examination should 

 be made for nails in the foot, or for the minute opening that 

 a nail would make in the hoof. In case a nail is found it 

 should be carefully extracted so as to avoid breaking it off 

 in the foot. Use a pair of pincers for this purpose. Trini 

 away the horn from around the wound down to the sensitive 

 tissue and disinfect the wound thoroughly. For this purpose 

 puré turpentine is good, or a 5% solution of carbolic acid. 

 After cleaning and disinfecting the wound well, cover it 

 w'th a piece of absorbent cotton wet with 5 % carbolic 

 acid and bind it on with a strong bandage made of burlaps 

 or coarse sacking. The horse must be kept on a clean dry 



