XV. 



WOUNDS. 



A wound may be defined as a solution of continuity of the 

 soft structures. Wounds are classified as incised, punctured, 

 lacerated, contused, gunshot, and poisoned. 



The incised wound is that made with a clean-cutting instru- 

 ment. 



PUNCTURED WOUNDS. 



Punctured wounds are such as are inflicted by means of a 

 sharp or blunt instrument. This variety of wound is character- 

 ized by depth greater than its. width. It is of a more dangerous 

 character than incised wounds. 



LACERATED WOUNDS. 



Lacerated wounds are those in which the soft tissues are more 

 or less torn. ISTot only the skin and areolar tissue, but in many 

 cases the muscles are torn. 



CONTUSED WOUNDS. 



Contused wound is an injury inflicted by some blunt object 

 without perforation of the skin. The deeper structures are more 

 or less involved, causing a certain amount of effusion to take 

 place. There will be an extravasation of blood. A clot is 

 formed, which either causes suppuration or is removed by ab- 

 sorption. 



GUNSHOT WOUNDS. 



Gunshot wounds are rare, except in war. They are followed 

 by inflammation, mortification, resolution, and death. 



(242) 



