CHAPTER X. 



Wounds and Fractures 



WIRE CUTS, KICKS, CALKS AND WOUNDS. (How to 



Prevent Callouses and Heal a Wound Without 



Leaving a Scar) 



A deep wound of this kind is not safe to be closed up at once 

 by means of sutures, especially if it is caused by a kick from an- 

 other horse, a wire cut, or an accident, where dirt, filthy and poison- 

 ous germs have been introduced into the animal tissues and cannot 

 be removed no matter how carefully you clean and disinfect the 

 parts involved. Sewing such a wound with the object of healing 

 it up quickly, often terminates in blood poison or lockjaw, shortly 

 followed by death. Often it is impossible to secure competent medi- 

 cal aid in time to save a valuable animal. 



TREATMENT 



When a horse or any farm animal has sustained a wound of 

 any kind, whether it be caused by a barbed wire, kick, or other ac- 

 cident, you should first of all remove, with as little disturbance as 

 possible, all particles of dirt, straw, chaff, or hair from the wound. 

 If the cut is so large that the skin lops down considerably you may 

 make a suture or two with twisted silk ; if the cut is straight up and 

 down, or nearly so, forming a gap, it is not necessary to suture. You 

 are now ready to apply some antiseptic which will favor rapid heal- 

 ing and act as an astringent, by which the edges of the wound are 

 practically drawn together. For this purpose take an original pack- 

 age of Lotio Vita, dissolve in a quart of rain water, shake well and 

 apply freely with your hand. Repeat twice daily and if the edges of 

 the wound become hard and brittle, occasionally rub on a little 

 fresh, unsalted hog's lard. You will be surprised at the rapid heal- 

 ing power of this preparation. It leaves no scars or callouses of any 

 kind, nor will it permit proud flesh to form. It is not necessary to 

 apply bandages with this treatment, unless they are applied to ar- 

 rest hemorrhages. The wound fares better without a bandage. 

 This is a new but thoroughly reliable remedy. It has proved so 

 satisfactory that I recommend my readers to keep a package on 



