WOUNDS. 169 



skin will have shrunk, and the exposed flesh become 

 hard and clotted. In this case it should be bathed 

 for an hour or two with warm water, to soften the 

 parts, and to allow of the shrunken skin being again 

 loosened, so that it can be stretched over and united 

 together in its place. 



The first thing to be done is to remove any feathers 

 that would interfere with the sewing-up, or would be likely 

 to stick to the wound, then bring the parts of the skin 

 together in their natural position, and stitch them up. 

 Every farmer should have a few surgical needles, 

 which any chemist can obtain for him at a cost 

 of about sixpence each. If he has not these, a good- 

 sized common needle can be used, with either common 

 thread or waxed thread used double, or common twine 

 used singly. The stitching is done by passing the 

 needle through both edges of the skin, and then t^'ing 

 it with a double knot, cutting off the ends and repeating 

 the operation, each stitch being separate and distinct from 

 the other. Sufficient stitches must be used to bring the 

 two edges of the skin completely together, which, with 

 the pus given forth by nature from the wound, excludes 

 the air, and this with the Ostrich in a few days effects a 

 cure. If handy, a little carbolic oil, made of one part 

 carbolic acid to twenty parts olive oil, rubbed over the 

 part, keeps the flies away. 



