WOUNDS AND TllElU TKKATMENT. 499 



Treatment. — The preventive treatment consists in avoiding all the 

 influences that tend to ilisturl) the nutrition ol' the tissues, such as 

 excessive cold or heat or continuous pressure, (ianjrrene following 

 decubitus may be prevented by using soft bedding and freipicntly 

 tiH'ning the animal from one side to the other. In dry gangrene 

 moist heat in the form of |)oultices or anointing tlie tissue with oils 

 and fats will be found benelicial in hasteiiiug the ilead tisisue to 

 slough off. When the outer skin begins to suppurate, it sliould be 

 reujoved with a pair of pincers, and the patch treated as an open 

 wound. In moist gangrene the tissue sliouKl be thoroughly disin- 

 fected with a 3 per cent solution of compound cresol, or particularly 

 an alcoholic tincture of camphor. Continuous irritation with anti- 

 septic fluids prevents the accumulation and absoi*i)tiou of |)oisonous 

 liquids. Incisions into the dead tissue may be made, and when 

 sloughing commences the tissue should be removed with forceps and 

 the resulting wound treated as in dry gangrene. 



ULCERATION. 



An ulcer is a circumscribed area of necrosis occurring on the skin 

 or mucous membrance and covered with granulation tissue. It is a 

 pr(x*ess of destruction, and when this process is going on faster than 

 regeneration can take place, we have a gnawing, or eating, ulcer. 

 When such an ulcer increases rapidly in size it is termed a phagedenic 

 ulcer. A fungoid ulcer is one in which the bottom of the ulcer pro- 

 jects beyond the edge of the skin. These ulcers secrete milky or 

 bloody-white licpiid called ichor. When the ulcer is of an ashen or 

 leaden color, with the bottom and sides formed of dense, hard con- 

 nective tissue, which gives but little discharge and is not sensitive, it 

 is termed callous, torpid, or indolent ulcer. 



Causes. — As in the ease of gangrene, disturbances of circulation are 

 among the most frequent causes. A wound to a tissue with slight 

 recuperative power may be followed by idceraticm, as in tumors. 

 Certain germs may produce ulcers, as the glandei-s bacilli, which 

 cause the ulcerations on the nas;d septum in glanders. 



Ti'eattuent. — This consists in removing the exciting cause at once. 

 The secretions of the ulcer should be washed off with antiseptic solu- 

 tions and the formation of gianulation tissues stimulated by antisej)- 

 tic salves, such as cari)olated vaseline, lead ointment, or by dressings 

 of camphor. Air should be kejH from the ulcer by occlu.sive dress- 

 ings. ^^^lore tlu' idcors are inflamed, warm lead water or lead water 

 and laudanum will Ix" found ellicacious. Callous idcers are Ijest re- 

 moved by a curette, knife, or hot iron and then treated like a common 

 wound. Mechanical irritation should be avoided. 



