264 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



more or less severe, with occasionally an abrasion of the 

 skin. A horse may inflict a speedy -cut upon almost any 

 part of his body, from his pasterns to his ears. The wound 

 is inflicted by the foot of the animal during fast travelling 

 or trials of speed. It is often seen amongst trotting horses, 

 and in horses of a certain conformation, as in animals that 

 are out-toed to a certain extent ; and high action is often a 

 cause of speedy-cut, where the latter occurs in connection 

 with the knee. Speedy-cut may be only a contused wound 

 of a very trivial character, or there may be rupture of some 

 of the small vessels ; extravasation and coagulation of the 

 blood takes place, and it becomes very difficult to remove, 

 and in many cases the effused fluids become solidified, in 

 consequence of which a permanent enlargement remains, 

 and not only detracts from the appearance of an animal, 

 but from its size is exposed and likely to sufl"er from injury 

 on subsequent occasions, the parts receiving many blows 

 which they would otherwise escape. 



Treatment. — The first thing to do is to remove the ex- 

 citing cause, which may be done by proper attention to the 

 feet, shoeing, etc. The animal should be rested while being 

 treated, or if exercised should wear a boot to protect the 

 injured part. If the enlargement is not solidified, fomenta- 

 tions or cold applications may be freely used for the purpose 

 of allaying irritation, if any be present. After the irritation 

 is allayed the enlargement may be opened, but should 

 never be opened until all irritation is allayed, or there will 

 generally be cause to repent it. If the enlargement is 

 solidified, reduce irritation by the usual methods, after 

 which counter-irritants may be applied, and usually, in such 

 cases, it will take a long time to eff'ect a cure. In case pus 

 or serum forms, it should always be allowed to escape, and 

 the wound treated in the ordinary way, by applying simple 

 dressings, as tepid water, or mild astringents, as plumbi 



