160 WOUNDS IN VARIOUS PARTS. 



in some cases, a small tent may be put into the 

 mouth of the wound once or twice a week, in 

 order to keep it open while the bottom part heals. 

 Wounds that require stitching must be sewn with 

 a fine thxad of xvhite leather, which is much 

 better than either silk or common thread; the 

 former will not cut the flesh and skin as the latter 

 does. The stitches should be two or three inches 

 from each other, and the needle bent in the shape 

 of an half-moon. Many fine horses are entirely 

 ruined by tenting the wound, or forcing in one 

 piece of hurds after another (dipped in a little 

 melted hog's lard and turpentine), with a couple 

 of canes, or sticks. This injudicious application 

 blocks up the matter, and renders the wound foul, 

 ulcerated, and callous, so that it often proves both 

 tedious and difficult to cure. When the swelling 

 and inflammation about the wound are very con- 

 siderable, and the colour of the fluid discharged 

 from the same is of a dark brown, we know that 

 a gangrene has taken place ; and if it becomes 

 black, flaccid, and insensible about the part, and 

 also loses heat before a suppuration takes place, 

 acquiring a putrid smell, it may be concluded that 

 a complete mortification has taken place. Under 

 circumstances of this kind the most powerful medi- 

 cines must expeditiously be applied. 



