284: \t;terinary medicine and sukgeky. 



vital parts; that the parts which they traverse are stretched and torn, 

 and consequently are disposed to inflame and suppurate; and pus, when 

 formed, has no free exit, and is liable to burrow extensively; that foreign 

 bodies may be carried to great depth without being suspected, and create 

 long-continued irritation; and finally, punctured wounds are most liable 

 to be followed by tetanus. 



Contused Woun-ds 



are injuries inflicted by som'e blunt object, without perforation of the 

 skin, and its consequences are a degree of concussion or benumbing 

 which may be severe without further mischief, as, for example, when a 

 horse strikes his leg with the opposite foot, goes lame for a time, but 

 very shortly is all right again. This is called hrushing or interfering, 

 and a repetition of it v/il). cause some structural change in the part 

 contused. 



Tlie second effect of contusion is a structural injury,.varying in degree. 

 There may be rupture of the smaller blood-vessels, and infiltration of the 

 blood into the surrounding tissues, constituting ecchymosis, or a large 

 blood-vessel may be ruptured, and the blood extravasated in considerable 

 quantity, tearing up the areolar tissue in whicli it congulates; or if an 

 artery be cut, a false or diffused aneurism may be the result. 



The third effect may be the formation of a serous abscess. 



The fourth effect may be the pulpification, disorganization, and sub- 

 sequent mortification of the part contused, not merely of its surface, but 

 of structures deeply imbedded beneath the skin. Eepeated contusions 

 of the coronet and pastern, by "brushing" or ''interfering," are suc- 

 ceeded in the colder months of the year by violent inflammation of the 

 skin and subcutaneous tissues, and the formation of abscesses in the parts, 

 which sometimes endanger the life of the animal by the severity of the 

 accompanying fever; whilst in other cases the inflammation extends into 

 the joints, rendering the case almost hopeless. 



Etiology. — Wounds of the flesh are produced by accidents chiefly, 

 and are sometimes very serious. 



There is a greater disposition in the horse than in man to suppurative 

 action. Hence wounds of any extent seldom heal completely in the 

 horse by direct union or by adhesion. These modes should, however, be 

 sought for and obtained as far as possible in each case, with the view of 

 reducing the size of the part requiring to be filled up by granulations. 



