THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 259 



WOUNDS, BRUISES, STRAINS, ETC. 



Cattle are subject to wounds from various sources. They 

 often stab each other with their horns ; they sometimes run 

 against sharp hedge-stakes, or the points of sharp agricultural 

 implements, and similar articles. These wounds are some- 

 times very deep, and the cow-leech aggravates the mischief 

 by irritating applications : he applies the same to trifling 

 wounds, and converts an accident of little consequence into 

 an affair of some magnitude. 



When an animal has received a deep and formidable 

 wound, as in the chest, the shoulder, the neck, or side, but 

 yet no vital organ is injured, the first thing to be done is to 

 prevent high fever and inflammation. Blood must be ab- 

 stracted, and saline aperients administered ; then let the 

 wounded part be well fomented with a decoction of poppy 

 heads, next covered with soft lint, and a large linseed-meal 

 poultice placed over it. These must be repeated till the 

 inflammation be subdued, and the wound begins to discharge 

 healthy purulent matter the sign of the commencement of 

 granulations. It is requisite that the wound should heal up 

 from the bottom, arid that the matter should have a free vent ; 

 it will be now therefore necessary to introduce a tent or plug 

 of soft tow, of sufficient size, smeared with a digestive oint- 

 ment, which may consist of lard and turpentine, of each four 

 ounces. Melt these together, and add an ounce of verdigris 

 (acetate of copper). This will keep down the granulations at 

 the sides and upper part of the wound, while they are filling 

 up the bottom. It is sometimes necessary to enlarge the 

 external orifice of the wound to allow of the escape of matter ; 

 for if this be confined it will lead to extensive suppurating 

 sinuses, and other mischief. 



It often happens that wounds bleed freeiy, some large 

 vessel being injured. This generally is not attended with 

 danger ; but if the flow of blood continue longer than is 

 deemed prudent (for it will relieve the animal), it may be 

 stopped by firm pressure adapted to the situation of the 

 wound. In managing this some judgment is requisite ; for it is 

 not always easy to secure the compress. The bleeding having 

 ceased, the treatment already described must be pursued. 



If the sides of the chest of a beast be punctured, but as far 

 as can be told the lungs have escaped uninjured (for should 

 they be lacerated there will be little or no hope), the wound 



