72 VETERINARY LECTURES 



134. Gun-Shot Wounds are caused by bullets and shot, and are 

 mostly met with in time of war, but are frequently found in dogs. 

 The bullets or pellets should be removed if practicable, then dress 

 as under Incised Wounds (par. 128) ; but the bullets or pellets may 

 often be left in the part with safety, Nature enveloping them with 

 a covering of dense tissue, when they cause little inconvenience. 



135. Poisoned Wounds may be due to poisonous medical 

 agents, to bites and stings of different animals, or to septic 

 organisms. Where the skin has been damaged by lice or otherwise, 

 numerous animals have been poisoned by being subsequently washed 

 with arsenical dips, therefore arsenical preparations should never, under 

 any circumstances, be used for washing horses, cows, or dogs affected with lice. 

 Poisoned wounds in animals are also caused by wasp-sting, snake- 

 bite, etc. For stings, apply a diluted solution of ammonia. In bites 

 from dogs, the best treatment is to wash the part well with cold water, 

 and apply tincture of iron. (For Septic Poisoning, see par. 34.) 



136. From wounds of every description we may have a great deal 

 of constitutional disturbance — sympathetic fever — when the tem- 

 perature rises to 104 or 106 . This also must be attended to {par. 38). 

 All wounds in the process of healing are greatly assisted by a daily 

 application of a solution of iodine prepared as follows : Iodine 

 1 drachm, iodide of potassium 2 diachms, water 1 pint, mixed, and 

 a little applied with a feather. 



137. Lacerated Muscles. — Muscles occasionally become lacer- 

 ated, or torn, without the skin being broken or any swelling or 

 lameness being visible, the animal merely going ' stiff.' All the 

 muscles of the body, those of the neck, back, loins, quarters, etc. — 

 from slipping on the ice, falling, galloping, jumping, etc. — are liable 

 to this ; and to arrive at a proper conclusion, the history of what the 

 animal had been doing previously is indispensable. Frequently 

 nothing is seen until the flesh is noticed to waste away from the 

 part — as, for example, the so-called shoulder-slip in young horses 

 when first put to work. If the animal does show lameness, rest, 

 with cold water irrigation by means of the hosepipe, or tub and 

 tube irrigation, several times a day, answers well (par. 71), and a 



