457 



the object being to sustain life until the poison snail have spent its 

 power. As local treatment, if the wound is in a limb, the latter may 

 have a handkerchief or cord tied around it, above the injury, and 

 drawn tight l>y a stick twisted into it. In this way absorption may be 

 checked until the poison can be destroyed b}' the application of a hot 

 iron or a piece of nitrate of silver or other caustic. A poultice of 

 tobacco leaves is a favorite remedy, and may be used to soothe the 

 sore after cauterization. 



BURNS AND SCALDS. 



For scalds the surface may be bathed with a solution of bicarbon- 

 ate of soda, sweetened or not by carbolic acid, or a weak solution of 

 sugar of lead may be used ; or the surface may be dusted thickly with 

 starch or flour and covered with the cotton wool, or oil of turpentine 

 may be ai^plied over the scalded skin. Burns are well treated by lini- 

 ment made of equal parts of lime water and linseed oil (Carron oil). 

 For both kinds of injuries, cosmoline ten parts, and carbolic acid, one 

 part, proves an excellent dressing. Blisters should be pricked with a 

 needle and emptied to prevent their rupture and the exposure of the 

 raw surface. 



Severe burns, leading to destruction of very extensive patches of 

 skin, usually render a horse useless by reason of the contraction of the 

 resulting scar, hence the treatment of such is rarely advisable, unless 

 followed by a skillful plastic operation. In otlier cases a skillful 

 transi)lanting of epidermis, shaved from a healthy surface with a 

 sharp razor, will secure the healing of a granulating wound which has 

 proved obstinate to all other measures. In cases of burns with min- 

 eral acids (sulphuric, nitric or h^xlrochloric) avoid water, as that will 

 develop heat, and cover the surface with dry whiting or chalk, and 

 only when effervescence has ceased wash off with water. "When the 

 caustic has been a salt (cojiperas, bluestoue, chloride of zinc, etc.) 

 apply lime water or white of egg. If the irritant has been caustic 

 potash, soda or ammonia, \anegar should be the first application. If 

 sores result they may be treated like ordinary wounds. 



WOUNDS OF THE SKIN. 



These are divided into incised {clean cut) wounds, lacerated {torn) 

 wounds, and contused {bruised) and jjuncture'd wounds. 



Incised wounds are the simplest, and the sharper the instrument 

 and the cleaner the cut the greater the hope of speedy healing. Some- 

 thing, however, depends on the seat and direction of the wound; thus 

 one running from before backward on the body, or from above down- 

 ward in the limb, will not tend to be drawn open and gape as would 

 one running transversely on the body or limb. Again a wound on a 

 joint and running across the limb will gape when the joint is bent. 

 59G1— HOR 15* 



