wounds] 



MODERN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 



[wounds. 



to make its appearance in about two or ihrco 

 days after tlie oporation of bluod-ltttinj;;, by a 

 small tumour at tlu> situation of tlie orifice, 

 the lips of wiiich unclose and look red, with a 

 sort of ichorous discharge, sonu'tinu-s accom- 

 panied with blood. In this case, if the pro- 

 gress is not stopped, the tumefaction extends 

 along the course of the vein towards the 

 head ; the vessel becomes hard, and the bli)od 

 contained in the trunk, I'orms into a iirm 

 coagulum, bv which it becomes impervious, 

 and all attempts to save it afterwards prove 

 a failure. Suppuration of the tumour now 

 begins to makes its appearance ; but this is not 

 always the case in the immediate part where 

 the original puncture took place; abscesses 

 will form in various situations above. If not 

 taken in time, the morbid action will extend 

 upwards so as to involve the side of the head 

 as well as the neck in the disease ; and when 

 this occurs, it greatly interferes with the horse's 

 eating and drinking. In such instances symp- 

 tomatic fever is apt to run high, and, from the 

 excess of irritability brought on, the animal 

 frequently becomes a victim. 



The treatment for inflammation of this sort 

 is altogether dillicult, and frequently doubtful. 

 It has been by some writers thought, that in 

 the early stage of the disease, the better plan 

 is to close the venial orifice, which is to be 

 done by the use of the budding-iron, applied 

 to its outer edge. But tiiis, by others, has 

 not been approved ; for if sloughing of the 

 part is caused, it will not remove the main 

 disease. It may, however, have a tendency to 

 heal the orifice without having any connexion 

 with the vein, where the disease may be going 

 on all the time, to a very considerable extent. 

 It is also said, that the ichorous oozing once 

 being stopped, the vein will become in all 

 respects as it was at first. This, however, has 

 been either questioned, or wholly denied ; ior 

 if the vein once takes on inflammation, its 

 obliteration is certain to follow. Nor is this 

 of so much danger as many persons would 

 have us believe. tStill, in such cases, the head 

 of the horse should be kept tied up, so that he 

 may have as little motion as possible. 



The treatment adopted in such cases, and 

 pursued with most success, has been, instead 

 of using the cautery, to heal up the original 

 wound — to keep that wound open, then intro- 



duce a probe as far as poa»ib!o, np the course 

 of the vein towards the head. AVIilmj thid Imn 

 been done, the operator hhould ft-el down upon 

 the end of the probe with his fing.-r, cut down 

 on the course of the vein about an inch above 

 tho end of the probe, and apply a ligature 

 firmly. The probe-pointed history should then 

 bo taken, and a slit made uj) tho length of 

 the vein, which may bo obliterated. Lt-t tluG 

 wound be well washed with warm water, and 

 a suture or two aj)plied, and a piece of tow or 

 tape dressed with digestive ointment, until sup- 

 puration takes place. After this, in all pro- 

 bability, the sutures will come awav, when 

 dressing as for a common wound, with com- 

 pound tincture of myrrh, should be begun. ]f 

 abscesses or sinuses have become formed, the 

 best method of treatment to be adopted is to 

 introduce setons, so that the matter formed 

 may escape by a depending orifice. Sometimes 

 these sinuses assume an indolent manner, 

 and become very troublesome. "Where this 

 happens, inject them with a solution of sulphate 

 of zinc, which will generally be found suQi- 

 cieutly strong to answer all purposes. Tor 

 this injection take of ' 



Sulj)hate of Zinc 1 02. 



^\'iiter 4 do. 



Let tlie water be warm, and dissolve tha 

 sulphate of zinc in it. This injected into the 

 sinuses will be found of great service, and less 

 irritable than corrosive sublimate, copperas, &c. 

 During the application of the foregoing reme- 

 dies, give the following : — 



Blue Pill 8 (h-achms. 



Cape Aloes 8 do. 



llesin 8 do. 



Form iato a mass with linseed meal and soft soap. 



Divide into six balls, and give one every second 

 morning, first thing on going to stable. 



It sometimes happens that the plate and 

 thigh vein becomes inflamed, in consequence of 

 the phleme being driven in too far, and punc- 

 turing the facia and parts uuderneatij tho 

 vein. Should this be the case, the best appli- 

 cation is, to bathe well with hot water five or 

 six times a day, and make up a ball of the fol- 

 lowing ingredients :^ 



Cape Aloes ; . 4 drachms. 



liesin 2 do. 



Porm with sofl soap, 

 and give one every second daj. 



213 



