WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT 55 



THE KINDS OF WOUNDS 



Wounds fall into four classes : the clean-cut kind 

 made by something sharp; the torn or lacerated, 

 where ragged edges are left; the bruised, the re- 

 sult of continued pressure or kicks or a knock; and 

 the punctured, like the entrance of a nail or splinter 

 or gunshot. 



The latter class is the most difficult in treating, 

 for the reason of the greater penetration that may 

 likely occur. In the case of gunshot, the wound 

 may be on the surface, or it may extend entirely 

 through the region attacked, or even penetrate 

 some vital organ like the heart or the lungs or 

 bowels, and either immediately or within a few 

 days be the cause of death. Fortunately such 

 wounds are rare. The stockman may never have 

 to deal with them at all. There are punctured 

 wounds that are common, however; some, indeed, 

 frequently lead to death. A nail wound is the 

 most serious, perhaps. It is likely that more cases 

 of tetanus or lockjaw are due to nail punctures than 

 to all others combined. 



After this class comes the lacerated kind. These 

 heal slowly; the tissue being torn and bruised is 

 repaired only through the sloughing off of the in- 

 jured and now superfluous parts. As a result, even 

 with the most attentive surgical help, the injured 

 part develops its exposed sore, ending finally com- 

 pletely healed, but permanently marked. Bruises 

 may be equally bad, long delayed in healing and 

 very painful. Do you remember the stone bruises 

 of boyhood days? How long it required to de- 

 velop! And the pain! I shall feel mine for ages 

 to come. 



