452 WOUNDS. 



with liot or cold water are also objectionable, because they 

 increase the discharge from the wounded surfaces, disturb the 

 sutures, and invariably bring on the suppurative action. 



If all goes on well, the sutures are to be carefully removed at 

 the end of the fifth or sixth day, when it will be found generally 

 that the wound has fairly united ; but should the lips begin to 

 gape, the surrounding parts to inflame, pus be discharged, the 

 sutures to drag, and cut the skin, some of the sutures at least 

 must be removed, the wound gently bathed with tepid water, 

 and its surface dressed with very dilute carbolic acid, a solution 

 of iodine, or the latest antiseptic dilute boracic acid. In warm 

 weather, and in cases that begin to inflame, tow or lint dipped 

 in cold water may be gently laid over the w^ound, and retained 

 in position by a light bandage placed at a little distance from 

 the wound. This should be occasionally wetted with cold 

 water in which carbolic acid has been dissolved. It is, how- 

 ever, better not to interfere in any way, except when absolutely 

 necessary. 



llie, Constitutional Treatment. — Prescribe a cooling diet ; ad- 

 minister a gentle purgative, and order quietude. 



The application of oiled silk, thin gutta-percha, or any other 

 waterproof covering to the wet dressings, is objectionable in 

 veterinary practice, more especially in horse practice, as the 

 parts so confined are apt to become highly inflamed, and the 

 skin blistered. 



2. Punctured wounds are produced by the penetration of a 

 sharp or blunt pointed instrument into the tissue usually to a 

 depth disproportionate to the aperture of entrance. Punctured 

 wounds are the most dangerous of aU wounds, and for the 

 reasons that, from their depth, they are liable to implicate 

 arteries, nerves, veins, viscera, and deep-seated vital parts ; 

 that the parts which they traverse are stretched and torn, and 

 consequently are disposed to inflame and suppurate; and pus, 

 when formed, has no free exit, and is liable to burrow exten- 

 sively ; that foreign bodies may be carried to great depths with- 

 out being suspected, and create long-continued irritation ; and 

 finally, punctured wounds are most liable to be followed by 

 tetanus. 



The treatment of punctured wounds must be conducted in 

 accordance with the gravity and depth of the puncture, and the 



