320 WOUNDS. 



dressing". This is very questionable: in some instances, 1 am 

 certain, no application can be worse to a wounded dog* than 

 his own tongue. Whenever dogs are at all inclined to foul- 

 ness, as it is called, a sore, so licked, is sure to become 

 mang-y, and to be aggravated by the licking. 



In all extensive and lacerated wounds, a stitch or two 

 should be made with a large needle and thread, as it will 

 reduce the wound ; but, as such stitches soon ulcerate out in 

 the dog, so the edges should be still further secured by slips 

 of sticking plaister. A recent wound should be cleansed from 

 the dirt, and then covered up : when it begins to suppurate, 

 dress with any mild ointment. In thorn wounds, or others 

 made with splinters, carefully examine that nothing is left 

 within them ; otherwise no attempts to produce healing will 

 prove successful. The most common wounds in dogs arisQ 

 from the bites of other dogs. Under such circumstances, 

 should any suspicion arise that the dog was mad by whom 

 the wounded one was bitten, proceed as directed under 

 7'ahies. The wounds, arising from common bites, in general 

 soon heal of themselves : if, however, they are very exten- 

 sive, wash them with Friar's balsam, to prevent their be- 

 coming gangrenous. 



Fistulous wounds, in glandular parts, often prove very ob- 

 stinate. In such cases, means must be taken to get at the 

 bottom of the sinus, and to raise a more healthy inflammation 

 therein. This may be done either by injecting something 

 stimulant into it, as a vitriolic wash, or by passing a seton 

 through it. Some fistulous wounds, such as those in the feet 

 and about the joints, will often not heal ; because either the 

 bones, or the capsular ligaments, are diseased. In these 

 cases, the wound, in general, requires to be laid open to the 

 bottom, and to be stimulated with oil of turpentine, or with 

 tincture of Spanish flies, daily, till the foul diseased bone or 

 ligament is thrown off", when a healing process will imme- 

 diately commence. 



