TREATMENT OF WOUNDS 113 



fectiou of the exposed raw tissues. If this is not done 

 surgicall}', in the manner prescribed for mechanical dis- 

 infection, then let the veterinarian throw precedent to 

 the winds and "go at" his wounds with chemicals that 

 will do this work for him. 



Venomous Wounds 



This term is coined to meet the requirements of the 

 particular scheme of treatment already laid down in the 

 preceding paragraphs. By it we wish to distinguish 

 wounds in the active stage of inflammation. A venom- 

 ous wound is one invaded with bacteria and envenomed 

 with their toxins. The term "infected wound" is some- 

 what different, since a wound is infected as soon as bac- 

 teria have lodged upon it; it is, however, not envenomed 

 until these bacteria have injected it with their poisons. 

 The term is used to designate that period of infection 

 intervening between the time the tissues begin to react 

 against the bacteria and their poisons and the final cessa- 

 tion of the active inflammation. In short, it applies to 

 all wounds in the siege of active inflammatory processes. 

 When the inflammation subsides, cicatrization proceeds 

 normally, unless there is some permanent damage done 

 to a bone, a tendon, a ligament, a cartilage, or an un- 

 drained cavity has formed. These events may cause a 

 chronic suppurative process — a fistula. When the active 

 inflammation ceases, or a chronic state of suppuration 

 supervenes, the term "venomous wound" no longer 

 applies. 



When a wound is soiled (infected) and before there 

 is any inflammation — that is, during the first twenty- 

 four or even forty-eight hours — we have recommended 

 the unceremonious trimming off of the bacteria-laden 

 tissues. That is, we have advised the immediate crea- 

 tion of an aseptic wound from a badly contaminated 



