454 WOUNDS. 



disappear when tlie inflammation subsides. If, however, after 

 the inflammation has been subdued, the exuberant granulations 

 continue in the wound, they are to be destroyed, and the tissues 

 stimulated to healthy action by being touched with the nitrate 

 of silver. In some instances, owing to debility of constitution, 

 these granulations continue as flabby, pale-looking excrescences, 

 notwithstanding efforts to repress them, discharging a sero-puru- 

 lent matter. Their repression will then be best effected by atten- 

 tion to the constitution of the animal, and by repeated applica- 

 tions of astringents. 



Fungous granulations are very often caused by injudicious 

 bandaging, and in many instances where bandages have been 

 applied to a wounded part they will entirely disappear upon the 

 discontinuance of the bandages, and if a wound from which 

 foreign bodies have been removed is not irritated by bandages, 

 undue interference, or what are termed digestive ointments, no 

 sprouting of proud-flesh will occur. There are, however, excep- 

 tional cases, and it may be necessary in these to support the 

 vessels of the part, and repress the granulations, by properly 

 adjusted bandages. Their effects are to be closely watched, for 

 generally they irritate the wound and excite fungous growths. 



Sulphate of copper, either in solution or as a fine powder, is 

 very generally applied to these granulations. I think it is a 

 very irritating application, and not so serviceable as the nitrate 

 of silver. In cases where the cause of exuberant granulations 

 can be traced to the constitution, tonics, good food, and pure air 

 are more to be depended upon than any mere local application. 

 When the constitution of the animal is good, and the treatment 

 proper, the cause of the continuance of unhealthy granulations 

 generally depends upon the presence of some foreign body in the 

 wound ; and of this a wound in the foot, pressed by a small por- 

 tion of horn, may be taken as a familiar example. Here we find 

 that the strongest escharotics are powerless in suppressing tlie 

 growth of "proud-flesh" so long as the horn is allowed to irri- 

 tate by pressing unduly upon any part of the wound; but if the 

 obnoxious piece of horn be removed, the granulations will cease 

 to grow ; and if the part be exposed to the air, will wither, scab 

 over, and heal in a very short time. 



