WOUNDS 489 



suppuration is almost certain to attend them ; and 

 although the external surface may be brought together 

 and healed, ulceration will be lurking beneath, and the 

 matter there collected must sooner or later find vent. 

 Whenever it is suspected that ulceration is going on 

 below, it will be better to keep the surface open, and 

 in about a week probe the wound to the bottom, and 

 thus make a free opening for the escape of the ac- 

 cumulated matter, which should be pressed out, and a 

 warm poultice applied to the part to draw out all that 

 remains. As soon as the inflammation completely 

 subsides, granulation of the sides of the wound will 

 take place, and it will ultimately heal up. 



In cases where valuable breeding cattle have 

 received deep and severe wounds, and the proprietor 

 is anxious to preserve the animals, then every means 

 must be adopted which are known in the veterinary 

 art to effect a cure. One of the first things to be at- 

 tended to is to keep down inflammation. In cases of 

 the animal being gored, or deeply wounded in the 

 belly, by leaping over a fence or other object, it often 

 happens that the incision is of such an extent as to 

 permit the bowels to protrude. The first thing to be 

 done in such cases, is to see that the intestines are 

 clean, and free from dirt or hair ; and if they are not 

 so, let them be carefully washed with a sponge and 

 carbolised warm water, and then return them into the 

 abdominal cavity, and stitch up the wound carefully 

 with a crooked needle and strong well-waxed linen 

 thread, or metallic wire, and afterwards apply a broad 

 roller round the carcase of the animal, to prevent the 

 internal pressure from tearing the sides of the wound 

 asunder. The animal should then be placed in a 

 situation where it can remain undisturbed. Its diet 

 for some time must be limited, and consist of such food 



