WOUNDS. 197 



are enormously distended with air, it will be necessary 

 to make various small punctures with a needle to lessen 

 their volume sufficiently to render them returnable. 

 For this purpose round, and not flat needles should be 

 used, since the latter would cut the fibres; but this 

 should not be resorted to until all other means have 

 failed, since the amount of inflammation caused by 

 their insertion will be very great, and will be attended 

 with extreme danger. Everything that tends to in- 

 crease inflammation of the intestines should be care- 

 fully avoided ; for in all wounds of the abdomen the 

 inflammation of the peritoneum is excessive. The 

 inflammation must be checked by bleeding, cooling 

 applications, and laxative medicines, such as linseed oil, 

 &c., with linseed and bran mashes as the sole food. 

 After the return of the intestines the edges of the 

 wound must be brought together, and as many sutures 

 as necessary inserted, in addition to which suitable 

 compresses and bandages will be required to retain the 

 position of the viscera. 



It is but seldom that horses can be kept in a favour- 

 able position for the successful treatment of wounds of 

 the abdomen ; and to this more than to any other cause 

 I am inclined to attribute the few instances there are 

 of successful treatment. 



INJUKIES TO THE EYE. 



It very frequently happens that extraneous matter 

 becomes lodged on the surface, or entangled in the 



