Common Diseases of the Horse 2 i i 



underneath cannot escape. By allowing a scab to remain on the 

 top of the chine, fistulous withers are caused, and in other parts of 

 the body deep-seated abscesses result. 



Broadly speaking, small wounds may be well cleansed with 

 cold water (a hose-pipe is a very good method) when first they 

 occur, and afterwards dressed daily with antiseptics. Nothing 

 further is required. Large wounds may require to be sewn up and 

 so many stitches put in. If this is necessary it must be done within 

 a few hours after the injury has been inflicted or union will not take 

 place. For after treatment it may be netessary for plugs, bandages, 

 or drainage tubes to be applied; in any case, if the injury is so 

 serious as to require stitching, expert advice would have to be 

 sought. 



Contused wounds of a severe nature require very careful hand- 

 ling, as a good deal of dead tissue results, which has to be thrown 

 off. This is called a " slough " or a " sloughing " wound, and it 

 often causes a good deal of after disfigurement. 



During the healing of a wound a superabundance of new tissue 

 forms. This is known as " proud " flesh, and is not of a healthy 

 character. It requires to be checked by applying a caustic, such 

 as a little nitrate of silver or butter of antimony. In general treat- 

 ment the hair requires to be cut from around the edges of the 

 wound, or irritation will be caused. The injured parts must be 

 given as much rest as possible; in some cases slings are necessary. 

 The following make excellent dressings, and a choice can be made 

 of wet or dry applications. Present-day surgery favours dry 

 dressings. 



Wet dressings. — Carbolic oil, 3 to 5 per cent; chinosol, a 15-gr. 

 tablet to I qt. of water; perchloride of mercury (corrosive sub- 

 limate), I to 2000; Jeyes's fluid, or any other of the coal-tar pro- 

 ducts, according to their various directions; friar's balsam, oil of 

 eucalyptus, thymol, &c. 



Dry dressings. — Boracic acid, iodoform, oxide of zinc, sanitas, 

 or a mixture of any of these. If much pain is present in the wound, 

 a little powdered opium may be added as a sedative. 



Bumped Knee — Broken Knee 



Bumped knee occurs by the horse injuring the structures under- 

 lying the skin of the knee, without causing a visible wound. In a 

 day or two considerable swelling occurs, which may be soft and 

 fluctuating, or hard and tense. 



Treatment. — Unless lameness is present rest is rarely advisable. 



