WOUNDS. 235 



orifice is a most important point in the treatment of wounds. 

 If matter is collecting, exit must be given by puncturing at the 

 lowest part, so that it may readily escape, and do no further 

 harm. 



We must not forget, when we are treating a wound, to 

 consider whether any foreign body is concealed in it — such as 

 pieces of wood, iron, thorns, or splinters, or other objects, such 

 as we frequently find in cases occurring to hunting-horses. If 

 such foreign bodies are not extracted, the wound will rarely 

 heal, and we then have much loss of time and aggravation of 

 the original injury. We may here remark that wounds of the 

 horse show a much greater liability to suppurate than obtains 

 in mankind, where there is a greater tendency to heal by 

 adhesion or the "first intention." 



Overreaches are wounds of the heels of the fore-feet, caused 

 usually by the inner edge of the toe of the hind shoe. For 

 this reason the inner edge of the hind shoe of hunters is, by a 

 farrier who knows his business, bevelled so that no sharp 

 surface is left. If this is not done, the shoe cuts like a knife 

 if by any accident the hind-foot reaches the fore-heel, and a 

 lip of horn, with the soft part to which it is attached, is cut 

 down, forming in many cases a troublesome and annoying sore. 

 To treat this, the detached horn should be cut ofif, so as to 

 leave no harbour for dirt or gravel, and the part should be well 

 washed and dressed with tar or other medicament, and then 

 bandaged up with tow, when a cure is generally soon eflfected. 

 In treating overreaches, it is necessary to thin the horn below 

 the wound, so as to allow it to expand to the swelling which 

 naturally occurs in the injured parts. If this be not done, 

 much irritation is often caused to the patient, and the cure is 

 retarded. 



Bleeding or Hcemorrhage. — If the injured vessel is small, 

 the bleeding will usually stop of itself ; but if large, a remedy 

 is often required. Sometimes pressure will do this, or plugging 



