286 VETEKINARY MEDICINE AND SURGEEY. 



For wounds intended to be healed by granulations, there is no better 

 dressing than lint steeped in cold water. Care must be taken to keep 

 the lint moist, and for this purpose it may be covered with oil-silk or 

 thin India-rubber. 



All wounds healing by granulations must fill up gradually /ro??i the 

 bottom. It must be remembered that there is a greater tendency to union 

 in the edges of the skin and in parts near the skin than in the deeper tis- 

 sues. Hence all deep wounds requn-e to be kept open, until we are assured 

 that the healing process is fully completed from the lowest part. This ob- 

 ject may generally be attained by inserting a piece of dry lint between 

 the edges of the wound. 



The formation of a slight scab over the exterior of a wound is useful 

 in many cases as a protection against the irritating effects of the air and 

 accidental abrasion; but no dense firm, unyielding scab should be per- 

 mitted to form or remain, because it will unduly check the natural exu- 

 dation of the matter which in such wounds always forms. The matter, 

 if confined, will collect until at last it bursts out by some large irregular 

 opening, or, if unable to obtain an exit, will burrow in the deep-seated 

 tissues and cause extensive mischief. 



If a wound which is healing either by scabbing or by granulations be- 

 comes indolent, and the healing process is slow and imperfect, it may be 

 necessary to rouse the parts to more energetic 'action. If the wound is 

 merely in the skin, the edges of it may be removed with the knife, and 

 the cut surfaces brought into contact and kept together by sutures or 

 sticking plaster. In other cases, caustic may be applied to the wound. 



Indolence in the healing process is a sign of constitutional debility. 

 Hence in addition to local measures the general health should be care- 

 fully attended to. 



In some indolent wounds, and especially in those over the coronet, 

 there is often a disposition to excessive and unhealthy granulations, 

 otherwise called proud flesh. This disposition must be kept in check by 

 the application of some styptic, such as sulphate of copper or zinc, 

 nitrate of silver, or alum, and in some cases, where it can be conveniently 

 applied, by pressure. When granulations form in masses, matter will 

 often be found under them, which is apt to burrow in sinuses, unless an 

 opening be made for it. 



In all wounds it is an object of much importance to keep the part in a 

 state of rest. In some parts a certain degi'ee of motion cannot be avoided. 



