432 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
serious as incised wound, they are commonly very much, more so. Lacera- 
tions and contusions, when extensive, are always to be regarded as dan- 
gerous. Many horses die from septic infection or mortification as a re- 
sult of these injuries. We find in severe contusions and infiltration cf 
blood into the surrounding tissues; disorganization and mortification fol- 
low, and involve often the deeper seated structures. Abscesses, single or 
multiple, may also result and call for specail treatment. 
In wounds that are lacerated the amount of hemorrhage is mostly in- 
considerable; even very large blood vessels may be torn apart without 
inducing a fatal result. The edges of the wound are ragged and uneven. 
These wounds are produced by barbed wire or some blunt object, as where 
a horse runs against fences, board piles, the corners of buildings, or 
wTiere he is struck by the pole or shafts of another team, falling on 
rough or irregular stones, etc. 
Contused wounds are caused by blunt instruments moving with suflS- 
cient velocity to bruise and crush the tissues, as running against objects, 
kicks, or falling on large, hard masses. 
Treatment. — In lacerated wounds great care must at first be exercised 
in examining or probing to the very bottom of the rent or tear, to see if 
any foreign body be present. Very often splinters of wood or bits of 
stone or dirt are thus lodged, and unless removed prevent the wound 
from healing; or if it should heal the wound soon opens again, discharging 
a thin, gluey matter that is characteristic of the presence of some object 
in the part. After a thorough exploration these wounds are to be care- 
fully and patiently fomented with warm water, to which has been added 
carbolic acid in the proportion of 1 part to 100 of water. Rarely, if ever, 
are stitches to be inserted in lacerated wounds. The surrounding tissues 
and skin are so weakened in vitality and structure by the contusions that 
stitches will not hold; they only irritate the parts. It is better to en- 
deavor to secure coaptation by means of bandages, plasters, or collodion. 
One essential in the treatment of lacerated wounds is to secure a free exit 
for the pus. If the orifice of the wound is too high, or if pus is found tot 
be burrowing in the tissues beneath the opening, we must then make a 
counter opening as low as possible. This will admit of the w^ound being 
thoroughly washed out, at first with warm water, and afterwards in- 
jected with some mild astringent and antiseptic wash, as chloride of zinc, 1 
dram to a pint of water. A dependent opening must be maintained until 
the wound ceases to discharge. Repeated hot fomentations over the 
region of lacerated wounds afford much relief and should be persisted in. 
BRUISES. 
Bruises are nothing but contused wounds where the skin has not been 
ruptured. There is often considerable solution of continuity of the parts 
under the skin, subcutaneous hemorrhage, etc., which may result in local 
death (mortification) and slough of the bruised parts. If the bruise or 
contusion is not so severe, many cases are quickly cured by constant 
fomentation with hot water for from two to four hours. The water 
should be allowed about this time to gradually become cool and then 
