n 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



i)flen injured. These cases are likewise less 

 easy of cure, owing to the difficulty of ex- 

 tracting any extraneous substances which may 

 happen to be lodged in the wound. All 

 punctured wounds and stabs are at the same 

 time dangerous, inasmuch as they are par- 

 ticularly apt to be followed by a great deal of 

 inflammation, fevers, deep-seated abscesses, 

 sinuses, &c 



POISONED WOUNDS. 



Wounds of this description are not very 

 common in this country. The stings and bites 

 of certain insects, and the bites of vipers, mad 

 dogs, cats, &c., are the only instances which 

 we meet with. The only insects to be dreaded 

 are the stings of the wasp, or the hornet. 

 This, to appearance, is the most formidable 

 creature of the winged tribe in Britain, the 

 sting of which is attended frequently with the 

 most acute pain and inflammation ; even the 

 sting of the wasp, should it occur where the 

 skin is thin, such as the inside of the thigh, 

 occasions extreme pain and irritation. 



WOUNDS OF THE HEAD. 



Wounds of the head of the Horse do not 

 so frequently occur, as at first sight may be 

 anticipated. The principal are wounds of the 

 ears, the eye-lids, the nose, or the salivary 

 gland or duct. The duct is situated at the 

 angle of the jaw, where you feel the Horse's 

 pulse. This duct is sometimes liable to be 

 torn, and causing the saliva to escape, instead 

 of passing on to the mouth to mix with the 

 animal's food, and frequently occasions great 

 debility. 



From the situation of the parotid duct, and 

 its liability to become wounded, what is 

 called a salivary fistula may be the conse- 



quence, unless some steps are immediately 

 taken to afford relief. The cheek and face 

 become considerably swollen, in consequence 

 of the saliva insinuating itself into the cellular 

 substance. The plan to prevent this proceed- 

 ing on, is to make use of the actual cautery : 

 a budding iron is the best thing ; after usin? 

 which, draw the lips of the wound together 

 with a suture, and apply adhesive plaister 

 over the whole, in strips, about a quarter of an 

 inch apart, first cutting the hair close off" all 

 round the part, or the plaister will not remain 

 on long. Laceration of the Horse's ears some- 

 times occur ; in such cases have your Horse 

 cast, and cut off" the lacerated part, and if jt 

 should not look at all eye-able, remove as 

 much more to make it so ; then crop the other 

 ear to correspond. This is the only method 

 you can pursue, as from the little vascularity 

 of the ear, it being principally composed of 

 gristle, you cannot expect union to take place. 

 The eye-lids frequently become lacerated and 

 very much torn, from nails or splinters of 

 wood about the rack, manger, or standing. 

 In this case you require a steady hand, a 

 small curved needle, armed with whity-brown 

 thread, and introduce sutures sufficient to 

 bring the parts as much in contact, and as 

 near to the appearance as they were before 

 the accident had taken place. After which, 

 use the following : 



Take Sulphate of zinc - |- oz. 

 Spirit of wine - 2 do. 

 Water - - - 16 do. 



Apply the above lotion to the parts affected 

 three or four times a day. Wounds of the 

 nose, or nostril, sometimes occur, which are 

 exceedingly difficult to heal, in consequence of 

 not always being able to apply proper reme- 



