170 INJURIES. 



Ligatures upon arteries in the horse come away in from 

 ten to fourteen days. Accidental wounds can very seldom 

 be put together to unite, even although they are (as all in- 

 cisions for operations ought to be) made in the proper direc- 

 tion for union : there being always more or less bruising of 

 the surface. Under many circumstances it is better not to 

 attempt union by the first intention. You would not put a 

 wound together (close it) while it was bleeding, but wait, 

 under ordinary circumstances, until the bleeding had ceased 

 some hours. There are some wounds of the face in which 

 the edges can be put together without blood being interposed 

 to prevent union ; but in most cases it is best to wait until 

 the wound has become glazed, and then use either what are 

 called bloody or dry sutures; by the latter being meant 

 some sort of plaster, the blood being generally of the inter- 

 rupted kind (Liston^s. Introductory Lecture in the ' Lancet' 

 for June 1, 1844). 



Budding Iron. 



My budding irons screw into the handles belonging to my 

 firing irons, and fit into the same leathern case, which, for 

 purposes of practice and portability, I find to be an extremely 

 convenient arrangement. 



The hemorrhage being suppressed, the next thing to be 

 done is to 



Remove all extraneous Matters, such as dirt, bits of 

 stick, glass, &c., also the clots of blood in the wound. 

 This is to be done with a soft sponge, some warm water, and 

 a resolute hand. This is a step by which we remove all 

 causes of irritation, therefore of suppuration, among which 

 extravasated blood may be properly ranged. 



The Closure of the Wound is the third thing required. 

 The human surgeon approximates the lips of a wound, and 

 confines them in apposition by the aids of plaster, roller, 

 and quietude : the veterinarian will find that plaster will not 

 stick upon the hairy skin of his patient ; that rollers are not 



