WOUNDS. 117 



and the pleura or lininor of the chest will probably become inflamed 

 by the unnatural presence of air in the cavity of the chest. 



Should the belly be wounded, and a portion of the bowels protrude, 

 it will be necessary to calculate the probability of being able to return 

 them into their proper situation, and healing the wound : for in many 

 of these cases the best thing the farmer can do is to send the animal 

 at once to the butcher. If a cure is attempted, all dirt and clotted 

 blood should be carefully removed from the protruded intestine with 

 a sponge and warm water. It must then be cautiously returned into 

 the belly, and the edges of the wound brought together and secured 

 by very close stitches. After that, rollers or bandages must be passed 

 round the belly, and which, being removed only while the wound is 

 dressed, must remain until a cure is completed, and for a few days 

 afterwards. 



In all these cases a vetermary surgeon should be consulted. He 

 alone is able to give an accurate opinion as to the probability of a 

 cure, and to guard against a thousand accidents and annoyances that 

 are likely to occur in the treatment of such a case. 



Many persons are frightened when they see the profuse bleeding 

 which sometimes takes place from deep or lacerated wounds. Ex- 

 cept some large arterial trunk is divided, there is little or no danger 

 of the animal bleeding to death. When a certain quantity of blood 

 is lost the stream will flow slowly, and a coagulum, or clot of blood, 

 will be formed in the vessel, and plug it up, and afford a mechanica, 

 obstruction to the hemorrhage. Sufficient blood, however, mav be 

 lost, to interfere very materially with the condition of the beast, and 

 to leave considerable and lasting w^eakness behind. We are there- 

 fore anxious to stop the bleeding as soon as we can. 



Where the situation will admit of it, a dossil of lint, placed upon 

 or in the wound, and secured by a firm bandage, will often be eflfectual. 

 If the vessel is but partly closed by the pressure of the lint, yet that 

 may be sufficient to produce a coagulation of the blood, and the con- 

 sequent stoppage of the stream. 



The next preferable way of proceeding is to endeavour to pass a 

 ligature round the bleeding vessel. This is often practicable by means 

 of a tenaculum or any hooked instrument, by which it may be drawn 

 a little from its situation, and some waxed silk or twine passed round 

 it. Sometimes it may be laid hold of with a pair of forceps or small 

 pincers, and so secured ; or, should neither of these methods be prac- 

 ticable, a crooked or glover's needle, armed with w^axed silk, may 

 be plunged into the flesh or cellular membrane in two or three places 

 around the wound, and when the silk is tightened the vein or artery 

 will probably be compressed and closed. The hot iron is sometimes 

 applied, but usually a great deal too hot, so as to destroy the life of 

 the part, instead of simply searing it, and thus causing renewed 

 hcemorrhage when the dead part is thrown oflf. As for styptic powders 

 or lotions, they appear to have little or no effect in stopping profuse 

 bleeding in cattle. 



