THE ARMY HOUSE. DO 



the propagation and ravages of those germs that cause the 

 formation of pus, and retard the healing process. The farrier, 

 or the man who is to care for the injured animal, should have 

 his hands thoroughly clean, and should procure in a clean can 

 or bucket a solution of creolin or other antiseptic, and several 

 clean pieces of cotton, gauze, or oakum. Sponges are cleaned 

 with difficulty and should not be used. 



If hemorrhage (bleeding) is profuse tne first step is to arrest 

 the flow of blood by ligating (tying) the blood vessel or vessels 

 with a i^iece of silk, or if none is at hand, with a clean piece of 

 string; if the blood vessels can not be tied, a thick pad made of 

 cotton or of several layers of gauze or clean cloth, folded so as 

 to cover the wound, and held firmly in place by one or more 

 cotton l)andages, will chock the flow of blood. This arrange- 

 ment, called a compress, should be left on until the hemorrhage 

 ceases, and the wound treated as described later. 



In applying dressings (except compresses) unnecessary pres- 

 rfjure should be avoided, especially on the soft tissues. 



Incised wounds. — If the injury is one that can be sutured 

 (sewed) a needle and silk should be immersed in a solution of 

 creolin — creolin 1 part, water 50 parts; the air around the 

 wound should either be shaved or be clipped with a pair of 

 shears, and the wound thoroughly cleansed by washing it with 

 cotton saturated with the creolin solution : all dirt and hair 

 must be removed, all ragged edges, if any, cut away, and the 

 edges of the wound placed in contact with each other if possible 

 and held in place by the aid of sutures, care being taken to allow 

 free drainage: the wound should then be wiped dry with a 

 fresh piece of cotton or gauze, and over the surface should be 

 dusted some iodoform or acetanilid. If the location will per- 

 mit, the wound should be covered with a pad of gauze or ab- 

 sorbent cotton, and a cotton bandage wrapped around the parts 

 to hold the pad in place. The wound should be dressed once or 

 twice a day until the formation of pus ceases; Avhen the wound 

 is dry, only the powder should be used. 



Lacerated icounds. — If the wound is a large one, with the 

 skin and tissues so badly torn and lacerated as not to admit of 

 the use of sutures, the torn and ragged edges (especially if the 

 lower part of the wound hangs down) should be removed with 

 the knife or scissors and the wound dressed as above directed. 

 When the wound begins to granulate (fill with new tissue) 

 care should be taken that the granulations are not allowed to 



