260 THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



must be closed, and kept closed by stout adhesive plaster, 

 and the treatment recommended in pleuritis adopted. Bleed- 

 ing, aperients, and doses of nitre combined with digitalis and 

 tartarised antimony, are the chief medicines. The wound 

 must be looked at in a day or two, and healed by tents, as 

 described, from its deepest part ; if it discharges matter, this 

 must have vent externally. We need not say that the case is 

 pregnant with danger. 



It not unfrequently happens that the abdomen is wounded, 

 and that some of the bowels protrude. These should be first 

 cleaned from dirt with warm water, and then be gently and 

 cautiously returned, even if be necessary to enlarge the wound 

 for the purpose, and to throw and secure the beast with cords. 

 The edges of the wound must then be brought together, and 

 secured with stitches of thread, in the skin only, or with 

 metallic sutures, which are better and not liable to give way. 

 A bandage should be neatly and closely applied, its folds 

 being brought round the body, and prevented from slipping. 

 The medicinal treatment will consist of bleeding, aperients, 

 c., according to the symptoms which supervene. 



In all these cases the aid of a veterinary surgeon is quite 

 indispensable. His anatomical knowledge will be called in 

 requisition, and the farmer must rely on his judgment. 

 Nerves, tendons, and ligaments are often lacerated by 

 wounds ; and injuries or fractures of bones may occur. The 

 peculiar line of treatment to be pursued in each case (and no 

 two cases will be precisely alike) must be directed by the 

 experienced practitioner. 



When cattle meet with severe strains or bruises, it will be 

 often necessary to take away blood and administer aperients. 

 The injured parts must be well fomented, and afterwards 

 covered with a poultice, if the situation of the part will admit 

 of it. When the inflammation has subsided, but swelling 

 and stiffness remain, a stimulating embrocation of oil, harts- 

 horn, and turpentine, will be very useful. 



It often happens that severe strains produce inflammation 

 of the fetlock or the pastern-joints, accompanied by swelling, 

 heat, and great tenderness. Bleeding from the veins of the 

 coronet, poultices, rest, and afterwards embrocations, consti- 

 tute the plan of treatment : blisters, should the stiffness not 

 subside, will be needful. Too frequently these strains of the 

 feet are neglected, and result in permanent lameness ; callus, 

 or a bony deposit, is formed around the joints, producing a 



