118 WOUND TREATMENT 



Methylene blue, tannic acid, or alum are also effectual, 

 but these are not indicated in cavities. They do no 

 good in such locations and often do much harm. 



The growing custom of using alum mixtures indiscrim- 

 inately as a stock healing powder is not good practice, as 

 such strong astringents applied to wound cavities pre- 

 vent instead of encourage the formation of new tissue. 

 Alum or any other astringent application is indicated 

 only as above mentioned, to prevent overgrowth of 

 granulations. 



Another element of no small importance in the treat- 

 ment of venomous wounds is absolute rest of the inflamed 

 part. Movements of inflamed wounds is disastrous, while 

 quietness is very helpful. Keeping animals tied up 

 instead of giving them the freedom of a paddock, tying 

 them up instead of exposing wounds to the movements 

 of getting up and lying down, applying immobilizing 

 bandages or leg braces, are just so many means of pre- 

 venting harmful movements of infected regions. When 

 a human surgeon puts a patient with an infected foot 

 to bed, or places an infected hand or arm in a sling, he is 

 doing a service that he knows is more beneficial than all 

 the other treatment he is able to devise. The same must 

 not be forgotten in the treatment of brutes that never 

 show any inclination whatever to protect their wounds 

 against movements or even serious violence. 



Internal treatment for venomous wounds is usually di- 

 rected at the fever, the pain, the emunctories, or the 

 infection itself. This calls for antipyretics, analgesics, 

 diuretics, purgatives, and internal antiseptics. When a 

 venomous wound threatens to be mortal, a simple line of 

 such internal medical aid should be carefully planned. 

 In the early stage when the pulse rate is high and the 

 character full and bounding, a few doses of aconite has a 

 helpful quieting effect on the circulation; later quinin 



