240 "^ NAYIN OX THE HOESE. 



taken up and tied. (See " Wounds of Arteries.") The cut must 

 then be cleansed of any dirt that is in it, and if any part of the 

 instrument making the wound remains in it, it must be found 

 and taken out. The next step is to bring the edges, or lips, of 

 the wound together, and keep them so by a proper number of 

 sutures, or stitches. If any inflammation or swelling and heat 

 arise, or to prevent them from taking place, the part may be 

 bathed often with compound tincture of myrrh, tincture of cam- 

 phor, or tincture of marigolds. If the stitches should rot out or 

 get broken, the wound will have to be healed by the formation 

 of matter, or, as it is called, by grayiulation. 



CONTUSED WOUNDS. 



These are inflicted by blunt instruments, and are generally 

 irregular in their shape, with bruising of the lips, or edges, of 

 the wound. Snagging is the most common way in which these 

 wounds are inflicted in this country. A contused wound may 

 be very extensive, and often a great pocket in the flesh is formed. 



Treatment. — These wounds can not be healed by first intention ; 

 they heal by the formation of matter and the filling up of the 

 rent by new flesh. This process of healing is called ^^ healing 

 by granulation^ Cleanse the wound from dirt or splinters, bring 

 the lips of the wound as near together as possible, by a few 

 stitches taken far back in the skin, being careful to leave a suf- 

 ficient opening for the matter to run out. If in a place where it 

 can be done, the part may be supported by a bandage, and the 

 wound held together. Inflammation must be kept down by the 

 constant application of cold water, or it may be dressed with 

 compound tincture of myrrh, tincture of marigold, camphor, 

 or opium. If the wound becomes very ofl'ensive, charcoal may 

 be applied to it, or solution of chloride of lime ; or it may be 

 washed out with pyrol igneous acitL If maggots get in the sore, 

 the above lime or acid will destroy them, or turpentine will 

 effectually get them out. The matter in these wounds has a 

 great tendency to burrow along the muscles, forming great 



