SKIN DISEASES. 289 



Iodized collodion too is often of service. If matter has actually 

 formed it should be let out with the lancet, the wound being 

 dressed with a solution of muriate of iron to prevent unhealthy 

 action. 



WOUNDS. 



These are divided into simple dean ads {indsid)^ stabs, pricks, 

 andpiindures ij>undured), bruisea or crushed {cofitused) and torn 

 {lacerated). Clean cuts often heal readily when the edges are 

 brought together accurately and retained so. But such union 

 by adhesion is most probable in strong, healthy, well-conditioned 

 animals, and least so in the weak, poor, and diseased. In 

 fowls it is almost invariable, in S7vine nearly equally so, in dogs, 

 cattle, and sheep there is still a strong tendency to adhesion, 

 while in horses all wounds readily form matter, and primary 

 adhesion throughout is exceptional. Bleeding should be 

 checked (see wounds of arteries, etc.), clots washed off with a 

 stream of tepid water, foreign objects carefully removed with 

 fingers or forceps, and the wound closed with as little exposure 

 as possible. The edges may be stitched together by means of 

 a curved flat needle, with silk or linen, well waxed or steeped 

 in a weak solution of carbolic acid, or better, with catgut which 

 has been steeped for a month in oil and carbolic acid, or with 

 silver or other metallic wire. It may be closed by a continuous 

 stitch as in sewing a glove, when adhesion is to be expected, or 

 by separate stitches a half to three-fourths of an inch apart 

 when primary union is more doubtful. To secure uniform 

 approximation of the edges or pressure on the different parts, 

 the stitches may be passed round a quill placed on each lip of 

 the wound (quilled suture). Or pins may be passed through 

 the lips at suitable distances, and a few fibres of tow twisted 

 around each like the figure 8. Small wounds may have their 

 edges shaved and layer after layer of collodion applied until the 

 covering is strong enouj?:li to hold them together. The use of a 



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