484 NAVm ON THE HORSE. 



them heal from the bottom. The tent is moistened with Yenice 

 turpentine before it is introduced. 



Thread. — The proper kind of thread, for sewing up wounds, 

 is the largest-sized surgeon's or saddler's silk. It should be 

 white, and waxed with beeswax. A finer cord may be used 

 for sewing up delicate structures, as intestines, etc. 



Surgeon's Knot. — This is very simple, when once understood, 

 and quite as useful as simple. It is made by passing one end, 

 or arm, of the thread twice around the other, and then draw- 

 ing the knot tight. No second knot is necessary, for this knot 

 will hold in tying any wound or bleeding artery. 



Sutures, or stitches, are made for the purpose of drawing a 

 wound together. A needle, armed with a thread, or cord, is 

 passed through the lips of the wound, and the cord drawn suf- 

 ficiently through ; then a surgeon's knot is tied on the cord, by 

 which the lips of the wound are drawn together. Both arms 

 of the cord are then cut off about three quarters of an inch 

 long. Sutures should be close enough to bring the lips of the 

 wound together all along. 



Ligatures are applied to wounded arteries. A cord is passed 

 round the artery and tied in a surgeon's knot on it. A pair of 

 forceps are necessary to grasp the end of the artery, to hold 

 it until it is tied, or a fine, sharp hook may be used to get 

 hold of the end of the bleeding artery, and draw it out to 

 be tied. 



Drenching-hottle. — Different contrivances are used for giving 

 a horse a drench. A quart wine-bottle is at once the most 

 easily obtained, and quite as good as any other. The drench 

 is in liquid form, or mixed in some liquid, as water, thin mu- 

 cilage, sage tea, etc. The drenching-bottle is filled. A bridle 

 is put on the horse, and the reins thrown over a beam, or limb 

 of a tree, and the head drawn up by an assistant until the 

 nose is elevated above a level. The operator then stands on a 

 chair, or box, at the off side, and takes the bottle in his right 

 hand, and gently introduces the neck of the bottle into the 



