MODERN FARRIER. 97 



must be used as is directed in case of the Staggers 

 or apoplexy. 



61. Wounds. 



The treatment of wounds generally is a branch of 

 the gi-eatest importance in the practice of farriery ; 

 yet it is very imperfectly understood, and many 

 foolish and injurious opinions are entertained on the 

 i subject. The proper treatment of v/ounds must de- 

 pend in a great measure on the part where they are 

 inflicted, and the form of the instrument that pro- 

 duced them. A clean cut made in the muscular 

 parts it easily healed, by applying slips of sticking 

 plaster as soon as possible, so as to keep the edges of 

 the wound close together ; or where plaster cannot 

 readily be applied, by taking a stitch or two through 

 the edges of the wound, and tying the strings gently 

 together. When the edges are found to adhere, the 

 strings must be cut away, and the holes which they 

 made will soon fill up. If any considerable blood- 

 vessel has been wounded, it will be proper to secure 

 it, if possible, by means of ligature, rather than by 

 applying any styptic substance. All wounds should 

 be made as clean as possible before any attempt is 

 made to heal them. Sometimes the wound is so 

 situated that it will not admit of being sewed up ; 

 but in these cases we may in general pass silver or 

 steel pins from the edges, at about an inch distance 

 from each other, and twist a thread crosswise from 

 one to the other, so as to form what is called the 

 twisted-suture. In all cases where sutures are used, 

 it will be proper to apply a sticking plaster over the 

 edges of the wound. If the wound should not heal 

 by these means, a formation of matter will take 

 place, and then the sore is to be treated as a common 

 ulcer, taking care that its edges be always kept as 

 near together as may be, by sticking plaster or a 

 bandage. 



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