SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 295 



which should in turn be tied securely on a similar piece of wood on 

 that side. 



Punctured wounds. — 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 pos- 

 sible. In this way foreign matters, 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 occur. 



The danger is especially marked when the injury is inflicted on 

 parts liable to frequent and extensive motion, but all cases of punc- 

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

 accurately formed from the external appearance of the wound. ^Vliile 

 a probe can ascertain the depth, it throws but little light on the 

 extent or exact ^nature of the internal injur3^ 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 end, or a i^iece of hard wood shaped for 

 the purpose. Stitching is not admissible in the case of punctured 

 wounds. After thoroughly cleansing the opening of the wound and 

 its surroundings, tincture of iodin should be injected directly into 

 the wound. 



If a punctured wound is not very deep, and when the bruising and 

 laceration are slight, it is possible for healing to take place b}'^ adhe- 

 sion, and this should always be encouraged, as the process 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 be kept 

 as quiet as possible. A dose of physic, such as a pound of Glauber's 

 or Epsom salt, should be administered, and warm antiseptic fomenta- 

 tions or poultices, when this is practicable, applied frequently to the 

 surface of the wound. 



In wounds of this description the process of repair may be com- 

 plicated by the appearance of exuberant granulations, popularly 

 known as " proud flesh," which is really an overgrowth of new tis- 

 sue — granulation tissue; but these should not be interfered with 

 unless they continue after the acute stage of inflammation has been 

 subdued. If, after this, they persist, they may be treated with a 

 solution of sulphate of copper (bluestone) or nitrate of silver (lunar 

 caustic) and water. 



