DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 283 



tect it from injury if possible. First examine the 

 wound to find the depth and direction and to see 

 that there is no foreign substance in it, then re- 

 move all hair or dirt and wash it out carefully with 

 water in which a little carbolic acid has been put, 

 about a teaspoonful to the quart of water. If it is 

 a superficial wound it is best cleaned by letting 

 the water run over it, and if deep, use a syringe 

 with gentle force. Washing with a sponge is too 

 rough for the new tissue. If the wound is a clean 

 cut, lengthwise on the muscle, stitching is of use. 

 If the wound is ragged or cut crosswise, stitch- 

 ing is of no use, as the ragged parts have to slough 

 off and the movement of the muscle prevents a cut 

 from uniting and must hv,al by granulation. After 

 a wounded muscle has been cleaned, wash as little 

 as possible, as it will disturb the healing process. 

 In the majority of flesh wounds, if they are not dis- 

 turbed they will heal very rapidly. They will heal 

 even if treated by strong liniments, but very likety 

 there will be a blemish, which would not be if na- 

 ture was not interfered with. There is an idea 

 that most people have that they must use some- 

 thing to keep out the cold or heat, which is a mis- 

 take, and by doing this the strong medicines used 

 do far more damage than the cold or heat. 



Wounds are divided into four kinds: Incised 

 (clean cut), lacerated (torn), contused (bruised), and 

 punctured wounds. I shall give the treatment of 

 each kind separately. A clean-cut wound length- 

 wise on the muscle usually heals by what is called 

 first intention. First examine the wound as to its 



