INFLAMMATION AND WOUNDS 209 



Healing by first intention occurs when the wound is clean 

 cut and there is very little destruction of tissue, and when there 

 is no suppuration or pus formation. The hlood and wound 

 secretions cause the edges of the wound to adhere. After a few 

 days or a week the union hecomes hrin. Very little scar tissue is 

 necessary in this form of healing. 



Healing by second intention is characterized by pus forma- 

 tion and granulation tissue. After the first day, the surface 

 of the wound may be more or less covered by red, granular-like 

 tissue. Later this granular appearance is modified by an 

 accumulation of creamy pus and swelling of the part, and 

 finally scab formation and contraction of the new scar tissue. 



Abrasions and superficial wounds usually heal under a 

 scab. The scab is formed by the blood and wound secretions. 

 This protects the surface of the wound until finally the de- 

 stroyed tissue is replaced by the granulations, and the skin sur- 

 face is restored. 



Abnormal granulation is not an uncommon form of healing 

 in domestic animals. Mechanical and bacterial irritation causes 

 the injured tissue to become swollen and inflamed. In such a 

 wound, excessive and rapid granulation occurs, the new tissue 

 piling up over the cut surfaces and appearing red and uneven. 

 This is termed excessive granulation or " proud flesh.'' This 

 tissue may refuse to " heal over," or the scar may be large, 

 prominent and painful. Abnormal tissue (horny or tumor- 

 like) may sometimes form. 



Wound Treatment. — Wounds in domestic animals are fre- 

 quently allowed to heal without special care or treatment. This 

 is unfortunate. The careful and intelligent treatment of wounds 

 would greatly decrease the loss resulting from this class of 

 injuries. The method of treatment varies in the different kinds 

 of wounds. 



The first step in the treatment is to checl' the hemorrhage. 

 Heat, ligation, pressure and torsion are tlie different methods 

 14 



