WOUNDS. 439 



ulcerative process, retained beyond the fifth day ; at which 

 time the inosculation of vessels not being firm, the part 

 usually again divides, and must then be filled up by granu- 

 lations : neither is it unusual for the irritation of the wound 

 to occasion the horse to bite them out even before their fair 

 time has expired, unless both horse and wound be very care- 

 fully secured. It is also necessary to remark, that where 

 any foreign body has been incautiously allowed to remain 

 within a wound, the irritation becomes so great that it is 

 prudent to divide the stitches, which will sometimes give 

 immediate relief; and the same also takes place when the 

 mere inflammation of the part runs high. Here, therefore, 

 are evils and benefits mixed up, the selection of which 

 must depend on the nature of the case. 



The adhesive injiammation certainly does in some cases 

 appear to be promoted by the judicious use of sutures : in 

 all wounds it is clearly our duty to attempt the union, by an 

 approximation of the divided parts ; we must then be 

 guided by circumstances as to the best method of retaining 

 them so applied. It is, however, proper to remark, that 

 until this union be despaired of, no moist applications should 

 be employed. 



Suppurative process. — When the adhesive union cannot 

 be brought about, the injured part tumefies, becomes hard, 

 painful, -and tender. Lymph is thrown out ; into this 

 lymph vessels shoot ; the lymph and the vessels assume 

 the form of nipples, being very minute, and studded all 

 over the surface : these nipples are called granulations ; the 

 vessels within them secrete pus ; the pus being a bland 

 fluid covers and protects the granulations, which gradually 

 grow until the parts are united, or any cavity the wound 

 may have formed is filled up ; the growth of the granula- 

 tions having reached the surface, cicatrization of the part 

 takes place. Cicatrization is the process of joining divided 

 parts. True skin is never reproduced ; but after the granu- 

 lations have united they lose their vascularity, and are con- 

 verted into cellular tissue. All scars are nothing more 

 than skin united by cellular tissue ; and when the skin sur- 

 rounding a wound is puckered, it is because the cellular 

 tissue contracting draws up the surrounding integuments. 



