avery's own farrier. . 157 



the skin, making a tumor on the outside in proportion to 

 the size of the wound within. The skin being tougher 

 and more stretchy, seldom gets broken in this way. 

 When you wish to remedy this difficulty, take the animal 

 down and have him well secured with ropes, or sufficient 

 help for this purpose. Lay him on the unaffected side, 

 and work the guts back into the body with your finger, 

 ascertaining at the same time the extent of the wound 

 in the wall of the belly. Then with a sharp knife cut 

 the skin to correspond with the breach, or a little longer 

 than it is on the inside, being careful to not cut the guts 

 if they should have worked out again, and if so, put 

 them back in the body, keeping them as clean as possi- 

 ble. Then with a crooked needle and a strong waxed 

 linen or silk cord (not too large for the needle), sew it 

 up by stitching through the skin and inside both together. 

 After you have taken one stitch on the inside to assist 

 you in keeping the guts back, tie the thread every time 

 you take a stitch. Cut the skin if the wound will admit 

 of it, so as to have the incision up and down when the 

 animal is on his feet; it will then have a better chance 

 to discharge the matter, &c., and the stitches will not be 

 so likely to tear out. When you let the animal up, 

 place a strong bandage around the body, drawing it as 

 tight as you can and have him breathe easy. Keep this 

 on some ten days, after which there will be no danger of 

 the stitches tearing out, for by this time it will be suffi- 

 ciently healed or knit to hold without their aid. If the 

 injury is a recent one, the edges on being brought to- 

 gether will readily unite, but in old wounds of this kind, 



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