470 BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTIIY. 



animal arc serious. They are virtually lacerated and contused 

 wounds. Remove all the shot possible from the wound, and treat as 

 directed for contusions. When small shot strike the horse from a 

 distance the}' stick in the skin or onl}- go through it. The shot grains 

 must be picked out, but as a rule this "peppering" of the skin 

 amounts to but little. 



rOISONKD WOUNDS. 



These injuries are the result of bites of snakes, rabid dogs, stings of 

 bees, wasps, etc. A single sting is not dangerous, but an animal is 

 often stung by a swarm of insects, when the chief danger occurs from 

 the swelling produced. If stung about the head, the nostrils may be 

 closed as a result of the swelling, causing labored breathing and pos- 

 sibly asphyxiation. Intoxication may be produced by the absorption 

 of this poison and is manifested by staggering gait, spreading of the 

 legs, paral^^sis of the muscles, difficult respiration, and a rise of tem- 

 perature. Death may follow in five to ten hours. 



Treatment. — Douse animal with cold water and apply any alkaline 

 liquid, such as soapsuds, bicarbonate of soda, or weak solution of 

 ammonia. Internally give alcohol, ether, or camphor to strengthen 

 the heart. In case of bites by rattlesnakes, moccasin, or other poi- 

 sonous snakes, a painful swelling occurs about the bitten part, which is 

 followed by labored breathing, weakness, retching, fever, and death 

 from collapse. The animal usually recovers if it can be kept "alive 

 over the third day. In treating the animal, a tight ligature should be 

 passed about the part above the wound to keep the poison from enter- 

 ing the general circulation. Wash out the wound thoroughly with 

 antiseptics and then apply a caustic, such as silver nitrate, or burn 

 with a hot instrument. A subcutaneous injection of one-fourth dram 

 of 1 per cent solution of chromic acid above the wound is also benefi- 

 cial. Cold water may be applied to the wound to combat the inflam- 

 mation. Bites of rabid dogs produce an infected wound, and the virus 

 of rabies introduced in this manner should be removed or destroyed 

 in the wound. Therefore produce considerable bleeding by incising 

 the wound, wash out thoroughl}^ with 10 per cent solution of zinc 

 chloride, and then appl}^ caustics or the actual cauter3^ 



HARNESS GALLS (SITFASTS). * 



Wounds or abrasions of the skin are frequently caused by ill-fitting 

 Harness or saddles. When a horse has been resting from steady work 

 for some time, particularly after being kept idle in a stable on a scant.y 

 allowance of grain, as in winter, he is soft and tender and sweats 

 easily when put to work again. In this condition he is apt to sweat 

 and chafe under the harness, especially if it is hard and poorly fitted. 

 This chafing is likel}' to cause abrasions of the skin, and thus pave the 



