288 VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



The constitutional effects of sucli wounds as it is worth our while to 

 treat in the horse are in general not very serious. 



Traumatic fever sometimes ensues, but usually subsides in a few days. 

 Temporary debility may follow any excessive loss of blood from an incised 

 wound, but nature soon repairs the loss. 



The special treatment called for by incised wounds is, 1, To arrest 

 hemorrhage; 2, To remove foreign bodies; 3, To effect and maintain co- 

 adaptation; and 4, To guard against excessive inflammation. (1.) Hem- 

 orrhage, whether arterial or venous, is to be arrested, and this is the first 

 thing that must be attended to. If it arises from a small artery partially 

 cut, blood of a bright-red color flows or spurts out in jets; but if it be 

 completely cut across, the ends contract, and the hemorrhage ceases. In 

 some cases the bleeding will continue although the artery be divided com- 

 pletely across, or will take place from time to time, and prove serious. 

 In such instances the end of tlie artery must be searched for, drawn out 

 by the forceps, and tied by a ligature; occasionally it will be found nec- 

 essary to enlarge the wound to do this effectually. 



Venous bleeding is generally easily arrested by moderate pressure, or 

 by an astringent application, such as a solution of the tincture of terchlo- 

 ride or the persulphate of iron. As a rule, even these slight applications 

 are unnecessary, venous bleeding stopping spontaneously if the wound is 

 exposed to cold air; but if a large vein be Avounded, it is often necessary 

 to tie it with a ligature. 



When the bleeding is arrested, all clots of blood, dirt, and foreign 

 bodies are to be removed as stated under general treatment. 



In wounds where muscular fibres are deeply cut, it is recommended 

 that the wound should remain open for about eight hours, for the pur- 

 pose of allowing the discharges of blood and serum to escape; or if sutures 

 are immediately employed, they should be applied in such a loose manner 

 as to allow the blood and serosity to escape, and all clots which may after- 

 ward form washed out. This is good practice, and insures healing by 

 adhesion in many cases that would otherwise run on to the more tardy 

 process of granulation. In many large wounds sufficient room for the 

 escape of the discharges, which are always profuse for the first few hours, 

 may be obtained by omitting one or even two sutures at the most depen- 

 dent part of the wound, which, if it be paralled to the axis of the limb 

 and the direction of the muscular fibres, is easily brought together and 

 maintained so by a few sutures, placed about an inch apart. If the 



