GUXSHOT WOUNDS — WOUNDS OF ARTEEIES. 245 



Penetrating ivounds of the chest may enter the lungs. All 

 tliat can be done is to sew up the wound, not very close, pass a 

 bandage tight around the chest, and apply local applications to 

 keep down inflammation. If inflammation runs too high, bleed 

 freely. Use scalded shorts, and keep the horse quiet. 



GUNSHOT WOUNDS. 



These are not very common in horses, except in battle. 

 They may be very slight, or very extensive. If it is thought 

 necessary to try to save the horse, any piece of shell or ball re- 

 maining must be removed, if it can be reached. To do this, 

 extensive cutting may be necessary. The wound is to be healed 

 by suppuration. This soon takes place. It may be necessary 

 to keep the wound open by the lint described under the head 

 of "Punctured Wounds," to keep the outside from healing too 

 soon. If it becomes offensive, charcoal may be applied, or a so- 

 lution of chloride of lime may be injected into the part, or 

 pyroligneous acid. 



WOUNDS OF ARTERIES. 



Sometimes, by accident, or in performing surgical opera- 

 ,tions, important arteries are wounded, and the horse's life is 

 threatened from the loss of blood. There are several methods 

 which may be successful in stopping the blood. If the artery 

 is quite small, its mouth may be caught by the fingers or a 

 pair of tweezers, and pinched and twisted ; or the direction 

 from which the artery comes may be found, and if it lies near 

 a bone, and not deep, it may be pressed on by the thumb 

 or the handle of a key, to stop its bleeding. Styptics 

 may be used. Among those at hand may be mentioned the 

 flesh of sole-leather, common cobwebs, puff-ball, and powdered 

 alum rolled in cotton. A handful of any of these may be 

 stuffed into the wound, and firmly bound there. They will 

 generally be successful, but if they fail, or if the artery is 



