108 WOUND TREATMENT 



The patient must now be placed under restraint that 

 will protect the wound against injury. Standing for 

 ten days is always a part of this restraint, as there is no 

 way to prevent stretching, tearing, and bruising a wound 

 if the patient is allowed freedom. If the wound is lo- 

 cated around the hips, thighs, hocks, buttocks, or croup, 

 switching the tail must be prevented by sacking or tying 

 it to one side. For wounds about the forequarters, 

 neck, or head, it is best to back the patient into a single 

 stall, fasten the head on the pillar reins, and feed from a 

 hammock. Slings may sometimes be thought necessary 

 to assure the desired state of repose that makes for good 

 healing. 



The after-care of the wound consists of daily attention 

 to the orifice. This must be kept from damming up the 

 discharges. A loose wick pushed up two or three inches 

 is the best way to keep the drain working well. 



At the end of ten days the collodion will be shedding. 

 It will be found adherent here and there, but easy enough 

 to remove by passing blunt scissors beneath it. The 

 sutures are now removed along the edges, and if it is 

 found there are some places not united, the loops are 

 not disturbed for several days more. 



If there is any doubt about the firmness of the union 

 the patient must be kept in the standing position until 

 the danger of breaking open the wound has passed. In 

 twenty days such a patient is usually ready for the har- 

 ness. A longer time may, however, be required where 

 the traumatic cavity was large or when the wound is 

 located at a flexion surface. 



The reader might also be reminded that the treatment 

 of such a wound is never complete without the adminis- 

 tration of an immunizing dose of antitetanic serum. The 

 closing up of a wound of this character creates a tetano- 

 genic field, and as this certain preventive is available, 



