488 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



which have received severe wounds, if the animal be 

 immediately destroyed, is perfectly wholesome. Besides, 

 in the attempt to cure severe wounds, there is always 

 a risk of the animal's dying, under the best devised 

 treatment. 



In the cure of wounds much depends on their 

 situation, and the form of the instrument by which they 

 were inflicted. A cut from a sharp instrument, provided 

 it be clean, is very easily healed ; all that is required 

 being to bring the edges of the wound together, and 

 keep them in contact by means of a slip of adhesive 

 plaster. But if they are in situations where the plaster 

 is not likely to remain on, in consequence of the action 

 of the muscles or otherwise, a few stitches with strong 

 thread or fine twine will have the same effect ; and 

 when it is found that adhesion of the parts has taken 

 place, the string must be cut away, and the needle- 

 holes will quickly fill up. Or the wound may be kept 

 together by means of a pin or two, with thread twisted 

 crossways round them, which can be drawn out after 

 the part has healed. Care must be taken that the 

 wounds are rendered perfectly clean before their edges 

 are brought together. But in fresh wounds, the use 

 of stimulants as a wash, is to be carefully avoided, all 

 that is necessary being to wash the parts with warm 

 water. Ignorant quacks often apply salves and other 

 greasy substances to fresh wounds, which, instead of 

 healing them, produce suppuration and sores ; and 

 stimulants rather retard the progress than facilitate the 

 natural healing process. 



Where wounds are inflicted by a round substance, 

 or an unequal-sided, or triangular instrument, they are 

 more difficult and more tedious to heal. And if the 

 wound is deep, sewing or pinning the parts must not 

 be had recourse to. In such cases, deep-rooted 



