104 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AKD TBEATilENT OF 



warm water will answer in some cases — in others cold water will do. 

 Or use acetate of lead and tow, and allow the blood to coagulate in the 

 tow, and then it will coagulate in the vessels ; and there are many other 

 styptics. After arresting the hemorrhage, carefully cleanse the wound 

 with cold or tepid water, and, if a lacerated wound, endeavour to find 

 how it was produced, and if by a sharp piece of wood, it may be that 

 some of the wood has been left in the tiesh, which must be removed. 

 The next thing is to bring the parts together. If the wound has been 

 produced for some time, perhaps the hemorrhage has ceased. Some say 

 it is not best to bring the edges together immediately, but leave alone 

 and allow all dirt, etc., to escape ; but, as a general thing, sew it up 

 immediately, using a 



Suture, of which there are different kinds, the interrupted, uninter- 

 rupted, quilled, twisted, and false. Use a needle to correspond with the 

 size of the wound. You may use the metallic wire, silver wire, silk 

 threat, or catgut. The metallic wire answers very well. Catgut is use- 

 ful, especially in abdominal wounds, and it is useful to saturate it with a 

 solution of carbolic acid. The interrupted, or glovers' stitch, is generally 

 the best. If a large wound, look at the manner in which it took place, 

 and determine where to make the first stitch ; leave a small part near the 

 most dependent part, for if stitched up closely serum accumulates and 

 irritates it. 



The Twisted Suture. — This is done by inserting pins and wrapping 

 thread on them in the shape of a figure eight ; you can use a pin director, 

 passing it through with the pin in its groove. Again, we have the 

 quilled suture, which is used in an injury to a large muscle, where the 

 skin is injured to a great extent It is done by laying quills or pieces of 

 wood on either side, and the sutures are tied over them. It requires 

 some practice and some nerve to sew up a large wound. I find, as a 

 general thing, that if the horse is irritable it is good to lay good pressure 

 upon the part, and take a good hold on the skin, and if the animal jerks 

 you are not so liable to let go ; and pass the needle quickly, as the irrita- 

 tion causes the animal to jump. Bandages are also used. Plasters 

 may be used in some cases. Bandages are apt to do more harm than 

 good. There is another method which is used, which does not look well 

 but is not a bad plan : take a strong piece of ticking and attach it to the 

 skin, back from the wound, by means of Burgundy pitch, or other adhe- 

 sive plaster, and bring the parts together by means of this. The stitches 

 do not generally stay loo long, but come out of their own accord, and the 

 trouble is to get them to stay long enough. If the wound is around the 

 eye, the smaller the needle the better, and I like silk thread for a suture 

 very well. There is a great difference of opinion with regard to the after 

 treatment, even among eminent surgeons. Some recommend exclusion 

 of the atmosphere and anti-septic dressings, some say they do better 

 exposed to the atmosphere ; some think water dressings are the best, 

 others think not. In our patients it is difficult to exclude the air, but 

 in human practice this is invariably done. 1 do not believe the atmos- 

 phere interferes with the healing of a wound in most cases. In some 

 cases we can and do cover up, and find the healing process retarded in- 

 stead of expedited. We hear of applying turpentine or black oil to 

 wounds, but if you apply anything to a wound use some slight astringent. 

 The white lotion is used more perhaps than any other remedy. It is made 

 of six drachms of sulphate of zinc, one ounce acetate of lead to one quart 

 of water, or it may be applied stronger. Carbolic acid one part to forty 

 of water, or some recommend oil with the carbolic acid, bat water is 

 better, as oil causes dirt to adhere to the wound. I do not recommend 



