PENETRATIXG WOUNDS. 243 



bdt slight, rest may be all that is necessary. But in this case 

 the foot should be closely watched, and on the first appearance 

 of lameness or tenderness, the sole should be pared away down 

 to the quick about the puncture, so that any matter formed, or 

 that may form, will find a ready passage out. This course is to 

 be pursued in all severe cases of puncture. The hole, or excava- 

 tion, thus formed in the sole is to be plugged with a pledget, or 

 plug of tow, wet with Venice turpentine, and a bunch of tow laid 

 over the sole. A piece of leather is then fitted to the bottom 

 of the foot, and held in j^lace by a thin piece of wood, each end 

 of which is thinned so as to wedge in between the shoe and 

 crust. The tow is to be removed once a day and a new plug 

 applied. If swelling or heat occur in the foot or pasterns, a so- 

 lution of tincture of arnica, one ounce to a quart of cold water, 

 may be applied, keeping the part wet with it. 



If the sole becomes separated from the sensitive sole, the 

 dead part should be pared off, leaving the sensitive sole uncov- 

 ered. The exposed part should then be touched with nitrate of 

 silver, and covered up with fine tow or lint, and the leather sole 

 put on. It should be dressed every day, but it will not be 

 necessary to use the nitrate of silver any more, unless fungus, 

 or proud-flesh, should be sprouting up, which should be freely 

 touched every day until it is removed. 'New horn v/ill soon be 

 found forming, to replace that removed. If quitter should be 

 found to have formed before treatment is commenced, treat for 

 that disease. It is astonishing how readily the most extensive 

 suppuration within the foot will subside when a proper opening- 

 is made in the sole of the foot, and it is properly protected from 

 dirt getting into it. 



PENETRATING WOUNDS. 

 Penetrating wounds are such as enter some of the internal 

 cavities, and they may be complicated with wouijds of the in- 

 ternal organs. They are, of course, unfavorable, but not neces- 

 sarily fatal. 



