980 



DISEASES AND THEIK TBEATlMENT. 



and insert into the wound an eighth of an inch or more; then if 

 necessary, poultice. This class of wounds, it is found, do not do 

 well by the treatment pursued in other wounds. So long as there 



Fig. 840. 



Fig. 841. 



is freedom of the synovial fluid in passing off, or any irritants are 

 permitted to enter such a cavity, they seem only to aggravate it. 

 The jDoint is to first stop this, which can be done best as directed, 

 or by touching lightly with a hot iron; keep the animal quiet, and 

 use an astringent dressing ; if inflammation is excessive, poultice, 

 and there will usually be no trouble. 



If clean cut, or the wound is of a character that will permit 

 the edges being brought together, as in cases where the skin is 

 widely separated, the point is, after sponging out the part so as 

 to remove any foreign matter, to bring the edges together, and 

 hold them in apposition, if it can be done without the skin slough- 

 ing, until healing by first intention takes place; but this seldom 

 can be accomplished, excepting to a partial degree, in the horse, 

 on account of the amount of muscular action of the skin; but in 

 many cases it must be resorted to, and will enable holding the 



Fio 842. 



Fig. 843. 



edges together sufiiciently long to enaole the wound to hual with- 

 out leaving much of a scar. 



The stitches, which should be from three-quarters to an inch 

 apart, can be made by means of a curved flat needle, with silk or 

 linen avoU waxed. I give illustrations of different methods of do- 



