SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 313 



plish-this method a curved needle with an eye in the point and a strong 

 xlouble thread should be used. The needle thus threaded is introduced 

 perpendicularly at least an inch from the wound on one side, carried 

 across below and brought out the same distance from the border of the 

 cut on the opposite side, the thread being seized and held in position 

 while the needle is withdrawn, leaving a loop of thread protruding on 

 one side and two loose ends on the other of each stitch. When a suffi- 

 cient number of stitches have been made, take a light piece of wood 

 about the size of a lead pencil, corresponding in length to the size of 

 the wound or slightly longer, and insert it through each of the loops, 

 drawing up the free ends of the threads, which should in turn be tied 

 securely on a similar piece of wood on that side. 



Punctured icounfo. Owing to the uncertainty of their depth and the 

 structures they may involve, punctured wounds are by far the most 

 dangerous and difficult to treat. Not only is the extent of the damage 

 hidden from view, but the very character of the injury, as can be readily 

 understood, implies at least the possibility of deep-seated inflammation 

 and consequent discharge of pus (matter), which, when formed, is kept 

 pent up until it has accumulated to such an extent that it burrows by 

 simple gravity, as no other exit is possible. In this way foreign mat- 

 ters, such as a broken piece of the stake or snag, or whatever caused 

 the wound, may be carried to an indefinite depth, or the cavity of a 

 joint may be invaded and very serious, if not fatal, consequences 

 supervene. 



The danger is especially marked when the injury is inflicted on parts 

 liable to frequent and extensive motion, but all cases of punctured 

 wounds should receive unusual care, as no judgment can be accurately 

 formed from the external appearance of the wound. While a probe 

 can ascertain the depth, it throws but little light on the extent or exact 

 nature of the internal injury. For this reason all punctured wounds 

 should invariably be carefully searched by means of a probe or some 

 substitute devised for the occasion, such as a piece of wire with a 

 smooth blunt Hid, or a piece of hard wood shaped for the purpose. 

 Stitching is not admissible in the case of punctured wounds. 



In the event of a punctured wound not being very deep, when the 

 bruising and laceration are slight, it is possible for healing to take 

 place by adhesion, and this should always be encouraged, as the proc- 

 ess of repair by this method is far superior to that by granulation, 

 which will be referred to later. With this object in view the animal 

 should IK- kept as quiet as possible. A dose of physic, sueh as a pound 

 of Glauber or Kpsom salts, should U- administered, and warm fomenta- 

 tions or poultices, when this is practicable, applied, the surface of the 

 wound being dressed twice a day with the ordinary white lotion, which 

 is made as follows: 



Acctato of l?a<l 1 ounce. 



Sulphate of r.iuf f <lrainn. 



Water 1 i|iiart. 



