CHAPTER XVIII 

 WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



A WOUND may be superlicial or deep. When in the 

 region of the head, chest, and belly, there is a special 

 Habihty towards internal organs becoming injured, while 

 an injmy (wound) in the neighbourhood of a joint may cause 

 an opening of the same (see Open Joints). 



It is possible to have a wound beneath the skin, and 

 yet have no external evidence of it beyond that of heat, 

 swelling, etc. 



It is said that wounds of this description heal more rapidly 

 than where the skin is broken, and this because germs are 

 excluded. While we believe this explanation holds good, so 

 far as injuries immediately subjacent to the skin are con- 

 cerned, we do not think that answers when applied to severe 

 muscular tears, which are often very long in regaining (if ever) 

 their former state. 



A wound in one situation may be provocative of another, 

 or others in remote parts. For instance, a puncture of the foot, 

 etc., will, if not attended to, cause the formation of matter, 

 and as this has no outlet, it " burrows," making its exit by 

 one or more small wounds around the top of the hoof. In 

 fistulous withers we may have a similar state of affairs. 



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