IXCISED WOUNDS. 239 



mouth. It is impossible to guard against these accidents per- 

 fectly. 



The principles on which wounds are to be treated are quite 

 simple. , If the wound is recent, that is, has been inflicted but a 

 short time, or if there is not much bruising of the edges, after 

 any hair, dirt, or splinters have been removed, the edges should 

 be brought together by sutures, or stitches, and an effort 

 made to effect a union by first intention, or without the forma- 

 tion of matter. The stitches should be close enough to bring 

 the edges of the wound together all along. In sewing up a 

 wound, a flat curved needle and silk cord, or saddler's silk of 

 large size, are used. The needle being armed, or threaded, 

 should be passed through the skin of both lips of the wound, 

 and the thread drawn through and tied by a surgeon's knot. 

 This knot is made by passing one arm of the thread over 

 the other twice, and then drawing the knot. This knot will 

 not slip. The thread is then cut off, and another suture is 

 made in the same way. . The only dressing necessary, after the 

 wound is sewed up, is for it to be bathed with compound tinc- 

 ture of myrrh, or tincture of camj)hor occasionally, if there is 

 any swelling or heat present, or, what is best for all wounds, 

 a strong tincture of garden marigolds. A bottle should be filled 

 with the flowers, and diluted alcohol, to fill it up, added, and let 

 stand two weeks, or apply tincture of arnica around the cut, but 

 not into it — one ounce to a quart of cold water. 



INCISED WOUNDS. 



These are such as are inflicted by a cutting instrument. An 

 incised wound may properly be defined to be "« clean cuty It, 

 of course, may be but a very trifling cut, requiring no attention 

 whatever, or it may be of great length and depth, presenting 

 a most ghastly sight, and, from the amount of bleeding, seri- 

 ously threaten the horse's life. 



Treatment. — If any artery is cut and bleeding, it must be 



