WATER TREATMENT. 439 



cools off the bowels and intestines, allays irritation, and enables 

 nature to resume her proper functions. 



WOUNDS, BRUISES, SPRAINS, ETC. 



" The best surgeons now regard water as an important auxil- 

 iary in treating wounds. Lavements, pourings, wet compresses, 

 &c., are used for the human subject; and water answers equally 

 well for animals. Simple cut wounds, when cleansed and dressed 

 with water, usually heal without suppuration, especially, if the 

 blood be in a healthy state. There being a tendency in all 

 wounds to fever and inflammation, water dressings, in the form 

 of wet bandages, keep down the unnatural heat, and allow nature 

 to go on with the healing process. The lips of the wound may, 

 generally, be held together with adhesive straps, and the water 

 application put over. The most dangerous wounds, near some 

 vital part, are frequently healed with the aid of water to keep 

 down the inflammation. We remember a fine mare that stepped 

 on a hoe, the handle of which had been split, leaving a sharp 

 end, and throwing the handle up under her belly, caused a deep, 

 ugly wound, and so lacerating the bowels, that, being in August, 

 it was thought almost useless to attempt saving her. But by 

 dressing the wound constantly with water, the flies were kept 

 out, inflammation prevented, and the wound healed in two 

 months, leaving the animal as valuable as before. Not long ago 

 we had a mare that accidentally struck a nail deep into her foot, 

 and being idle in the stable at the time, it was not discovered till 

 the foot became much swollen ; and when the blacksmith took 

 off the shoe, the foot was in such an inflamed condition, that he 

 thought nothing could prevent gangrene and the loss of her foot. 

 But a shallow tub was put into her stall, filled with water, and 

 the foot placed in it. So much did this relieve the pain, that 

 when the water was changed, the animal would, voluntarily, place 

 her foot in it. The inflammation was soon reduced, and the foot 

 became sound. 



