LACERATED AND CONTUSED WOUNDS. 177 



hemorrhage. A bruised part is commonly tender to the 

 touch_, and, should it be in a limb, often causes halting 

 action ; particularly when the blow has been upon a bone. 

 Cooling or evaporating lotions may be used here. When a 

 tumour rises from internal effusion, many employ the discu- 

 tient, or sal ammoniac lotion, believing it to promote the 

 action of the absorbents. Should there be any sign of 

 fever, we must bleed without loss of time. Whether we 

 bleed or not, however, a laxative will generally prove 

 beneficial. 



Sloughing. — Occasionally lacerated parts whose vitality is 

 destroyed by contusion, slough, or are separated from the 

 contiguous living structures, and cast off. While this process 

 is acting, the surface assumes a livid hue, becoming darker 

 until it has in places turned almost black. An offensive, 

 thin discharge exudes from the part ; the fetor is of a dis- 

 gusting nature : in fact, before now, I have no sooner entered 

 the premises of a veterinary surgeon, than I have said to 

 him, " You have got a case of sloughing in your stables \'' 

 A good application in such cases is camphorated spirit — 

 made by dissolving two ounces of camphor in a pint of 

 spirits of wine. Wet some soft linen cloths in this, and 

 cover the parts with them. Poultices, when they can be 

 applied, are of great service in these cases : they may be 

 made either of linseed meal, oatmeal, alone, or yeast may be 

 added and they may be applied in a state of fermentation. 

 Carrot poultices I have known useful. When the fetor is 

 extreme, it may be corrected by charcoal, or, by that potent 

 antiseptic — the chloride of zinc. A generous diet should 

 be allowed the animal during the sloughing of a wound ; he 

 may even be supported by steel, bark, bitters, &c.^ 



» My predecessor in the Life Guards, Mr. Bloxliam, had great faith (where 

 tonic medicines appeared requisite) in the sulphate of iron, Qi\cn in porter or 

 stout : he would give a drachm of the salt, dissolved in a pint of warm porter, 

 twice a dav. 



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