978 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



is cut, it must be stopped promptly ; if it cannot be tied up, it can 

 usually be stopped by touching it with a hot iron, or applying any 

 good styptic. (See Styptics.) Simply covering over with cob- 

 webs will usually answer a good purpose. Clip the hair from the 

 edges, also any bits of loose skin which would be liable to slough 

 off; but it is always advisable to save every bit of skin that can 

 be kept alive ; the part to be sponged out daily, and the dressing 

 repeated. The injury will heal from the bottom, gradually filling 

 up, by what is termed a granulating process. If there is serious 

 inflammation, swelling and pain, poultice; but if poultices cannot 

 be used to advantage, or if pain and swelling are very severe, hot 

 fomentations must be applied and continued without intermis- 

 sion until it subsides; then dress daily as directed. Care must 

 also be taken to keep the horse quiet in a comfortable stall, free 

 from the annoyance of flies, and fed with easily digested, laxative 

 food; if much tendency to fever, give a small dose of physic. 



If the cut or wound is deep, dress with a tent, which is simply 

 a wad of tow dipped in digestive ointment, which will be referred 

 to farther on ; the cavity is not to be filled with the tent, but only 

 the bottom, and then the wound will heal up as it ought; if the 

 wound is merely syringed out, or dressed superficially, it is liable 

 to close over at the surface, and appear healed, while at the bottom 

 the matter is spreading and burrowing, forming a sinus ; in case 

 there is too rapid granulation, or proud flesh, check it by touch- 

 ing with a little caustic. When the wound fills up, and there 

 is not skin enough to cover it, dusting over it a little of the magic 

 healing powder, or any of the astringents given, will cicatrize it 

 quickly. If a wound is indolent, or does not seem to granulate, 

 simply use a stronger stimulant; if serious, using a caustic, which 

 will remove the unhealthy parts, and set up a healthy condition 

 of granulation. A very good, simple stimulant to rouse an indo- 

 lent ulcer to action, is an ounce of blue vitriol, pulverized, to a pint 

 of water ; and for a simple healing or granulating effect, a lighter 

 preparation, or about 2 drachms to a pint of water: to be used as 

 a dressing once a day. If the wound is deep so as to make a 

 pouch of accumulated matter, it must be syringed out from the 

 bottom every day, or better a dependent opening made from the 

 bottom, and kept open by a piece of tape or string passed through 

 it, to let the matter pass off. 



