490 DISEASES OF THE HORSE, 



light bandage should then be applied, the horse allowed to rest, and 

 if necessary the treatment may be repeated each day for two or three 

 days. If, however, the wound is so severe that sloughing must ensue, 

 we should encourage it by poultices made of linseed meal, wheat 

 bran, turnips, onions, bread and milk, or hops. Charcoal is to be 

 sprinkled over the surface of the poultice when the wound is bad 

 smelling. After the slough has fallen off the wound is to be dressed 

 with warm washes of carbolic acid, chlorid of zinc, permanganate of 

 potash, or other antiseptic. If granulating (filling up) too fast, use 

 burnt alum or air-slaked lime. Besides this local treatment, we find 

 that the constitutional symptoms of fever and inflammation call for 

 measures to prevent or control them. This is best done by placing 

 the injured animal on soft or green feed. A physic of Barbados 

 aloes, 1 ounce, should be given as soon as possible after the accident. 

 Sedatives, such as tincture of aconite root, 15 drops, three times a 

 day, or ounce doses of saltpeter every four hours, may also be admin- 

 istered. When the symptoms of fever are abated, and if the dis- 

 charges from the wound are abundant, the strength of the patient 

 must be supported by good feed and tonics. One of the best tonics 

 is as follows: Powdered sulphate of iron, powdered gentian, and 

 powdered ginger, of each 4 ounces. Mix thoroughly and give a 

 heaping tablespoonful twice a day, on the feed or as a drench. 



PUNCTURED WOUNDS. 



Punctured wounds are produced by the penetration of a sharp or 

 blunt-pointed substance, such as a thorn, fork, nail, etc., and the 

 orifice of these wounds is always small in proportion to their depth. 

 In veterinary practice punctured wounds are much more common 

 than the others. They involve the feet most frequently, next the 

 legs, and often the head and face from nails protruding through the 

 stalls and trough. They are not only the most frequent, but they are 

 also the most serious, owing to the difficulty of obtaining thorough 

 disinfection. Another circumstance rendering them so is the lack of 

 attention that they at first receive. The external wound is so small 

 that but little or no importance is attached to it, yet in a short time 

 swelling, pain, and acute inflammation, often of a serious character, 

 are manifested. 



Considering the most common of the punctured wounds, we must 

 give precedence to those of the feet. Horses worked in cities, about 

 iron works, around building places, etc., are most likely to receive 

 " nails in the feet." The animal treads upon nails, pieces of iron 

 or screws, forcing them into the soles of the feet. If the nail, or 

 whatever it is that has punctured the foot, is fast in some large or 

 heavy body, and is withdrawn as the horse lifts his foot, lameness 

 may last for only a few steps; but unless properly attended to at 



