168 INJURIES. 



The peruscil of this case informs us of what we are to 

 expect in such occurrences ; at the same time it teaches us 

 what steps we have to pursue. In all wounds there are 

 three circumstances requiring our immediate attention and 

 consideration : the first is the 



Hemorrhage. — In general, incised wounds bleed more" 

 freely than contused or lacerated ; and the sharper the in- 

 strument the more the bleeding : the reason for which is, 



trickled from the incision, but not in such quantity as to excite apprehension. 

 The animal was led into a yard hard by, and immediately cast ; the wound was 

 cleansed, for the pm-pose of examination. Though the wound was deep, the 

 principal blood-vessels had escaped injury; therefore nothing remained, but to 

 bring the divided sides together by suture ; after which the horse was led into a 

 box, but kept tied up (lest by moving about it should disturb the wound, or get 

 the mouth to it and gnaw the stitches), and fed on bran-mashes for the re- 

 mainder of that day. The same day, I examined the pulse, mouth, skin, and 

 flanks, to see if there was any fever or symptoms of irritation about it : find- 

 ing there were none, and the appetite being good, I conceived it unnecessary to 

 bleed it. Finding, on the fourth day, the wound was growing tumid and 

 tender, I hailed this as the time for the removal of the sutures ; which I eflFected 

 easily, by dividing the stitches with a pair of scissors, and drawing them out 

 with my forceps. No sooner were the lips of the wound liberated, than they 

 receded from each other, though not, to the same extent they would have done, 

 had sutures not been employed : so that by their use something had been gained. 

 A deep chasm was now exposed to view, the interior of which exhibited a livid 

 aspect, and was moist with serous discharge. I ordered a digestive dressing;' 

 at the same, I directed that the animal be loosened, ordering a cradle to be worn, 

 to prevent it licking or biting the wound. The next day there was an appear- 

 ance of purulent matter about the edges : I renewed the digestive, to produce 

 the same from the recesses of the cavity. Soon this point was gained. I now 

 changed my dressing for spirituous tinctures : employing one day Friars' balsam ; 

 another, tincture of myrrh and aloes ; making use at the same time of powdered 

 bark by way of an astringent and absorbent. Every time, before dressing the 

 wound, I had it (as well as the limb) made thoroughly clean by fomentation. 

 The animal had little fever — none that required anything more than occasional 

 laxatives, and a continuance in cooling diet ; in two months the wound was 

 healed ; it became covered by contraction of the skin, so that nothing ultimately 

 remained to be seen but a cicatrix^ consisting simply in a puckered mark across 

 the hair. 



' Turpentine dressings — either the spirits of turpentine or turpentine ointment , 

 are used as digestives. I find nothing more effective in producing laudable pus 

 than the farriers' black oil. 



