LACEEATED WOUJfDS — PUNCTURED WOUNDS. 241 



pouches. Where these form they should be freely opened at 

 the lower part of the pouch, or sack, and the matter let out. 



LACERATED WOUNDS. 



A lacerated wound is only an irregular cut, or rent, often 

 presenting a flap of skin or flesh turned back. 



Treatment. — The treatment of lacerated wounds should be 

 the same as that recommended for incised wounds. But if the 

 stitches should break, the lips of the wound are to be kept as 

 close together as possible, and healing by granulation favored 

 by the means recommended for contused wounds. 



PUNCTURED WOUNDS. 



These are made by sharp instruments, such as nails, the- 

 prongs of forks, splinters, etc. A punctured wound may be of 

 very great depth, or very shallow. Its dangerousness will de- 

 pend much on the part in which it is made. Very high inflam- 

 mation is likely to occur in a severe punctured wound. Lock- 

 jaw is one of the common dangers of this sort of wound. This, 

 sort of wound generally heals by forming matter, or by suppu- 

 ration, which is the most favorable and safe method. 



Treatment. — The first thing to be done is to ascertain if there- 

 is any thing in the wound. This is done by probing, and, where- 

 it can be used, the best and most satisfactory probe is the fin- 

 ger. If any thing is found, it must he taken out. To do this it 

 may be necessary to open the wound much wider with a long- 

 bladed knife, being careful to make the cut in the direction of 

 the muscles, so as not to cut arteries. This being done, if the- 

 wound is in the fleshy part, the object is to prevent too high in- 

 flammation and get matter to forming as soon as possible. 

 Take a small wire, and bend it double, and then wrap it with 

 tow, hemp, or flax-lint, and moisten this tent with Venice tur- 

 pentine and introduce it, the bent end forward, into the wound. 

 The tent should be long enough to reach near the bottom of 

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