Horses and Horsemastership. 37 



the first care. Lukewarm water squeezed from a sponge 

 held above the wound will wash away any foreign sub- 

 stances. The sjDonge should not be allowed to touch 

 the wound. 



A simple incised wound requires but little attention 

 after the bleeding has been stopped. The edges must 

 be brought together, and, if necessary, kept in position 

 by stitching. I have seen an ordinary pin passed 

 through the skin of each edge and a hair from the horse's 

 tail wound over it as a sailor would wind a rop€ on a 

 belay ing-pin. Union was accomplished in a few days, 

 the pin withdrawn, and the horse was at work in a 

 week. 



Punctures are more troublesome. The simple ones 

 do best if transformed by the aid of the knife into 

 incised wounds. By this means the discharge is given 

 a chance of escape and the healing process becomes 

 facilitated. In the serious cases the puncture may have 

 penetrated a joint or the covering of a tendon. 



Lacerated wounds require careful attention, and 

 usually take longer to heal than either of the former. 

 They bleed but little. Having carefully cleansed the 

 wounds as above directed, any jagged edges must be 

 replaced as carefully as possible. At the same time, 

 the great thing to remember is that wounds of this 

 description must not be allowed to close until it is 



