152 WOUNDS. 



The worst and common result of sores on the back is, 

 that sinuses or cavities, with an almost imperceptible 

 orifice, insidiously eat away like poll-evil into the more 

 important part of the adjacent structure. Here the aid 

 of the veterinary surgeon is indispensable. 



(Being myself acquainted with, anatomy, I used to get a depend- 

 ing orifice as near as possible to the bottom of the sinus (as dis- 

 covered with a probe) by a bistuary, laying the sinus open all the 

 way ; or if the direction were rather superficial, by the insertion of 

 a seton-needle about the width of the sinus, run out at bottom, 

 leaving the seton in to direct the discharge. The latter operation, 

 if carefully conducted, is decidedly the simplest and best when prac- 

 ticable.) 



For prevention of sore back avoid injurious pressure 

 from an ill-fitting saddle ; also removing it too quickly 

 from the back of a heated animal (see " Work," page 

 37). Pressure of the terret-pad (see page 59), or of the 

 roller from not being properly chambered over the ridge 

 of the back (see page 19), must also be carefully guarded 

 against. 



WOUNDS, 



if deep or dangerous, should meet with the immediate 

 attention of a surgeon, as none but anatomists should 

 deal with them. Generally speaking, the loss of a mo- 

 derate quantity of blood is rather beneficial than other- 

 wise, tending to avert inflammation. Where water- 

 dressing (see page 160) can be applied, nothing is better 

 in the first instance ; and when the wound is fairly 

 cleansed and evidently healing, the chloride of zinc 

 lotion (see page 158) will advance that process and help 

 to dry it up. When the surface is perfectly healed and 

 a new skin formed, the growth of the hair will be pro- 



