CHAPTER XVI. 



SU&GICtiL AFFECTIONS. 



A wound is a separation of continuous parts by violence. It is of practi- 

 cal importance to consider four varieties : — incised, punctured, lacerated, 

 contused. 



The incised wounds, made by clean-cutting instruments, are usually 

 produced with the least violence, and generally the most easily repaired. 

 The punctured, those made by instruments of greater length than breadth, 

 including stabs etc., are dangerous from their depth, and from the possi- 

 bility of hemorrhage and injury to the internal organs; abscesses are 

 liable to follow deep wounds. In the lacerated, the parts are torn, and the 

 contused are effected by bruising; these wounds are commonly produced 

 by greater violence, heal more slowly and invite the formation of pus; 

 they generally bleed less than the incised or punctured, because arteries 

 when torn, contract and close more than when cut. 



Treatment. — The indications in the treatment of wounds are to check 

 bleeding; remove foreign bodies; brjng the divided parts together, and 

 secure them in a natural position ; to promote healing. Pressure and the 

 application of cold will generally suffice to control hemorrhage, unless an 

 artery of considerable size is wounded, in which case if it persists in 

 bleeding, a surgeon should be called to ligate. 



Foreign bodies can be removed by the fingers or forceps, and dirt, gravel, 

 etc. washed away. If the wound gaps open the edges should be brought 

 together and held by sutures, for which silk is prefex*red. 



When a dog has been wounded and stitching is necessary, one must not 

 shrink fx-om the duty through fear of violence; rarely will any be encoun- 

 tered, for the noble brutes possessed of a human intelligence are conscious 

 that a kind hand inflicts the pain to repair their injury, and they undergo 

 the operation with a fortitude which excites wonder and admiration. In 

 all extensive wounds stitches should be introduced with an interval of a 

 half an inch between them, entering the skin well back from the edges to 



