CONTUSED AND LACERATED WOUNDS. 455 



CONTUSED AND LACERATED WOUNDS. 



The division into contused and lacerated wounds may be 

 classified as one of two sections, namely — 1. Contusion with 

 ecchymosis ; and 2. Contused and lacerated wounds. 



A contusion is an injury inflicted by some blunt object, with- 

 out perforation of the skin, and its consequences are — (1.) A 

 degree of concussion or benumbing which may be severe without 

 further mischief, as, for example, when a horse strikes his leg 

 with the opposite foot, goes lame for a time, but very shortly is 

 all right again. This is called brushing or interfering, and a 

 repetition of it will cause some structural change in the part 

 contused. Horses that brush require to be shod with a preven- 

 tive shoe, or to wear a boot made for the purpose. This infirmity 

 is commonly seen in the hind legs, where it is of less conse- 

 quence than in the fore ones. Horses that cut or brush with 

 their fore legs are generally bad-legged ones, with round fetlock- 

 joints and turned-out toes ; and they should be looked upon as 

 unsound, for they may be brought to the ground at any time if 

 the limb be severely struck. Indeed, it is a rare exception to 

 find an animal of this conformation without broken knees, if it 

 has done any work at all. 



The second effect of contusion is a structural injury, varying 

 in degree. 1st. There may be rupture of the smaller blood- 

 vessels, and infiltration of the blood into the surrounding tissues, 

 constituting ecchymosis. 2d. A large blood-vessel may be rup- 

 tured, and the blood extravasated in considerable quantity, 

 tearing up the areolar tissue in which it coagulates ; or if an 

 artery be cut, a false or diffused aneurism may be the result. 



The third effect may be the formation of a serous abscess. 



The fourth effect may be the pulpification, disorganization, 

 and subsequent mortification of the part contused, not merely of 

 its surface, but of structures deeply imbedded beneath the skin. 

 Kepeated contusions of the coronet and pastern, by " brushing " 

 or " interfering," are succeeded in the colder months of the year 

 by violent inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, 

 and the formation of abscesses in the parts, which sometimes 

 endanger the life of the animal by the severity of the accom- 

 panying fever ; whilst in other cases the inflammation extends 

 into the joints, rendering the case almost hopeless. The treat- 



