116 WOUNDS. 



but he who pours in his boiling oil, or his corrosive sublimate, de- 

 serves never more to possess, or to be permitted medically to treat, a 

 beast. In obstinate cases diluted nitric acid (one part of nitric acid, 

 and two of water) may be applied over the surface of the ulcer, with 

 a pencil or sponge. 



When a tumour is forming on the shoulder from the pressure of 

 the collar, every attempt should be made to disperse it. A saturated 

 solution of common salt will often be useful, or sal ammoniac dis- 

 solved in eight times its v/eight of water ; but the best discutient 

 application is the following : — 



RECIPE (No. 50.) 



Discutient Lotion. — Take, bay salt, four ounces ; vinegar, one pint ; water, a quart ; 

 oil of origanum, a drachm. Add the oil to the salt first, ruh them well down with a 

 little water, then gradually add the rest of the water and the vinegar. 



The part should not only be wetted with this embrocation, but 

 gently, yet well rubbed with it. 



Should the swelling still increase, and, on feeling it, matter should 

 evidently be formed, the sooner the tumour is opened the better, and 

 the best way to open it is to pass a seton from the top through the 

 lowest part of it. 



Oxen are very apt to be wounded in the feet. If this is soon dis- 

 covered, all that will be necessary is to apply a pledget of tow wetted 

 with tincture of aloes, confining it between the claws with a bandage, 

 or to touch the part lightly with the butyr of antimony. When the 

 application of the caustic is necessary, there is no need to apply it 

 with the severity used by some, so as to corrode the parts to the very 

 bone. 



If the wound is extensive, and accompanied by much swelling, 

 heat, and pain, and especially if the beast should begin to lose its 

 appetite, and to heave at the flanks, it will be prudent both to physic 

 and to bleed. 



If much contusion or bruise attends the wound, and which is very 

 likely to happen when cattle are gadding about and breaking out of 

 their pastures in summer, and especially when strange beasts are 

 intermixed, the previous fomentation will be more than usually neces- 

 sar}', in order to prevent inflammation, and to disperse or favour the 

 escape of the effused blood. The fomentations should be continued 

 during half an hour at each time, and repeated three or four times in 

 the day. The flannels sliould be applied dripping wet, and as hot 

 as the hand can bear them. 



If the wound penetrates the cavit}^ of the chest, as it sometimes 

 will when one beast gores another, it will be necessary to bring the 

 parts more accurately together, and to confine them by closer stitches; 

 a piece of adhesive plaister should then be placed over the wound, 

 and secured by the application of proper rollers or bandages. If the 

 air is suiTered to pass in and out of the wound for any considerable 

 time, the edges of it will be indisposed to unite together and to heal, 



