THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 367 



cannot be applied, owing to the situation of the wound, dress it 

 with pyroligneous acid. 



Lacerated Wounds. 



Lacerated wounds are generally in the form of a rent rather 

 than cut, inflicted (as we have seen cases) by the calking of a 

 shoe tearing off the integuments and-subcellular tissue, leaving a 

 sort of triangular flap. In these cures we generally employ 

 sutures, and treat them the same as incised wounds. 



Punctured Wounds. 



Punctured wounds are those inflicted by a pointed body, as a 

 nail in the foot, point of a fork, or splinter of wood. These are 

 the most dangerous kinds of wounds, for they are frequently the 

 cause of fistula and locked-jaw. 



We make it an invariable rule, in the treatment of punctured 

 wounds, to first examine by probe or otherwise, and remove any 

 foreign body that may be present, and then poultice with flaxseed, 

 into which we stir a small quantity of fir balsam. In puncture 

 of the foot by nail, instead of plastering it with tar, and forcing 

 a tent into the orifice, and then covering the sole with leather, as 

 most blacksmiths are wont to do, we have the shoe taken off, the 

 foot washed clean, and a moderately warm poultice applied, and 

 renewed daily, until the suppurative stage commences. That 

 once established, we consider our patient safe ; for many men, as 

 well as animals, have lost their lives from the absorption of pus 

 formed in the wound after the external breach had healed. 

 When a bone is injured by the point of a nail, or fork, the cure 

 is rather tedious ; the primary means, however, are the same. 

 The poultices may be followed by astringent injections, as alum 

 water, &c. In case of injury to the bone, we use pyroligneous 

 acid ; to be thrown into the wound by means of a small syringe. 

 If extensive disease of the bone sets in, the services of a veter- 

 inary surgeon will be required. A very profuse or unhealthy 

 discharge from a punctured wound must be met by constitutional 

 remedies. Sulphur and sassafras, to the amount of half an 



