SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 307 



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 ex- 

 tent that it burrows by simple gravity, as no other exit is possible. 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, 

 consequence supervene. 



The danger is especially marked when the injurv' is inflicted on 

 parts liable to fi'cquent and extensive motion, but all cases of punc- 

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

 accurately formed from the external api)earance of the wound. While 

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

 lent or exact nature of the internal injury. For this reason all punc- 

 tured 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 piece of hard wood shaped for the 

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



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

 laceration are slight, it is possible for healing to take place by 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 fomentations 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 : 



Acetate of lead ounce-- 1 



Sulphate of zinc dranis__ 6 



Water quart__ 1 



The lead and zinc should be put in a quart bottle with a pint of rain 

 water and well shaken, when the balance of the water may be added. 



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

 plicated by the appearance of exuberant granulations, popularly 

 known as " proud flesh " or " dead flesh," but really an overgrowth of 

 new tissue — granulation tissue; but these should not be interfered 

 with unless they should 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. Irritation, caused by an overinterference 



