326 ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



ings, by dirty hands to wounds, is frequently the means of spreading 

 disease instead of stopping it, and the thorough 'and skilful use of soap 

 and water is frequently of more benefit than such misapplied remedies. 

 Bleeding. Stoppage of bleeding is the first point lo be attended to if it is serious. 



In the majority of wounds it is not. Bleeding may be from an artery, a 

 vein, or mixed. From an artery the blood is bright scarlet and spurts 

 out in a jerky stream, each successive jerk corresponding to a beat of the 

 heart ; from a vein there is a steady flow of a darker red colour ; mixed 

 -* bleeding is what is commonly seen from ordinary wounds, and comes from 



the small vessels, which are numerous all over the body. 



The readiest means of stopping bleeding is pressure, which may be 

 carried out by tight bandaging al30ve and below the wound, or by placing 

 a pad on the wound and bandaging over it (the pad may be lint, tow, a 

 folded cloth), or for severe bleeding a tourniquet may be applied (to a 

 limb) above the wound. This may be improvised by tying a cord or strip 

 of linen round the leg loosely, and then twisting a stick in it till it is so 

 tight that it stops the circulation. It must be remembered that this 

 severe pressure cannot be borne for long without causing the leg to swell, 

 and should be removed as soon as possible, and for ordinary wounds a 

 simple pad and bandage over is usually sufficient to control the flow. If 

 there happens to be a large vessel cut and the end exposed, it should be tied 

 round with a clean thread which has been soaked in an antiseptic. For 

 wounds with a small opening, where a large vessel has been cut (usually 

 inside the arm and thigh), a large pin may be stuck through both lips of 

 the wound and a twist of tow or lint tied round it in a figure of 8. 



Bleeding stops because the blood clots in the mouths of the wounded 

 vessels, and this having. happened, all outside clots should be cleared 

 and the wound dressed with an antiseptic. 

 Anti- An antiseptic is an agent which either kills germs or prevents'them 



septics. from growing on wounds ; many are known, and although some may be 

 preferred to others for special purposes, it is not as a rule of so much 

 importance which particular one is used as that it should be thoroughly 

 and intelligently employed. 



In their application it should be remembered that some of them are 

 irritating subst mces which when used in too strong solutions, burn 

 the wounds and retard their rapid healing, and they should, therefore, 

 always be employed as weak as is consistent with efficiency. 



Carbolic acid must be applied frequently, as it evaporates quickly. 



Sulphate of zinc is useful to apply to wounds which are not looking 

 quite healthy, and restores their colour and tone. Weak solutions 

 (i — loo) of phenyle, Jeyes' fluid, Sanitas, Macdougall's sheep dip, Lysol 



