WOUNDS. 441 



slow, if the muscular parts healed up, the cast- off bone 

 would become a foreign body, and occasion continued irri- 

 tation, with a succession of abscesses. 



WOUNDS OF PARTICULAR PARTS. 



Wounds of the head should be treated according to the 

 part they happen in : the first step is to ascertain whether 

 any injury has been done to the bones underneath ; which, if 

 found to be broken, must be treated according to the direc- 

 tions given under the head of Fractures. When any part of 

 the ear is much lacerated, it may be advisable to draw the 

 divided edges together with fine sutures, and to support the 

 tube internally by means of pasteboard moulded to the shape. 

 When, from accident, either the parotid or other salivary 

 glands become wounded, every attempt should be made to 

 produce a speedy union, or the continued flow of saliva will 

 occasion a fistulous sore. — (See Salivary Fistula, chapter 

 XIII.) In wounds of the eye, or of the eyelids, the parts 

 should be replaced as nicely as possible, so that their 

 motions may not be impeded : in such cases, it is evident 

 no irritating application ought to be used. In divisions of 

 the eyelid, neat small stitches of the interrupted suture may 

 be inserted near together, and the horse secured from rub- 

 bing, by placing him in a box or barn, with his head tied to 

 a beam in the ceiling, at the usual height ; by which means 

 he cannot rub the wound with his knee or his hind leg, nor 

 will there be any rack or manger to rub against : he should 

 also have a cradle constantly on his neck. We have, in one 

 or two instances of wounded eyelids, used the twisted suture 

 with success. In wounds of the nose, care should be taken 

 to remove the bones, if any be broken quite off, or entirely 

 separated from the adjacent structures ; to retain the parts 

 in their situations, there may be put any firm substance up 

 the nostril well guarded with soft tow or rag. 



Wounds of the neck. — When the ligamentum nuchae be- 

 comes wounded, a depending orifice should be immediately 

 made, and the wound dressed with the lotion of chloride of 

 zinc previously recommended, by which sinuses may be pre- 

 vented forming. The integuments of the neck are not 

 unfavourably situated for the insertion of interrupted sutures ; 



