448 



trickle over the wound. Never rub an incised wound with any coarse 

 substance. When the incision is parallel to the muscular fibers the 

 wound does not gape to any extent. Stitches placed about an inch 

 apart are here advisable, or we may keep the edges of the wound to- 

 gether by means of a bandage. If the incision be across the direction 

 of the muscular fibers gaping ensues and a " pocket " forms at the bot- 

 tom of the wound in which lodge blood and pns. In my experience 

 fititchcs do more harm than good in such cases. They irritate the parts 

 and soon cause sloughing of the skin. A bandage, so applied as to 

 bring the edges of the wound as close together as possible, is here pref- 

 erable. It should be applied from below upwards, as this encourages 

 union from the bottom, and serves to prevent the accumulation of pus 

 in the wound. But little is to be done after this. By means of a soft 

 sponge apply some simple antiseptic wash, carbolic acid 1 part, glycer- 

 ine 10 to 15 parts. If the parts become very much soiled they are to 

 be gently washed with eastile or carbolic soap and hot water. Should 

 proud flesh api^ear it is to be treated with burnt alum, powdered blue- 

 stone, etc. Officious meddling and frequent " dressing " of such wounds 

 do more harm than good. 



Incised wounds of tendons, or of any vital part of the body, require 

 professional attendance, and can not be separately treated of here. 



Lacerated and contused wounds may be described together, although 

 there is of course this difference, that in contused wounds there is no 

 break or laceration of the skin. Lacerated wouuds, however, are as a 

 rule also contused — the surrounding tissues are bruised to a greater or 

 lesser extent. While such wounds may not appear at first sight to be 

 as serious as incised wounds they are commonly very much more so. 

 Lacerations and contusions, when extensive, are always to be regarded 

 as dangerous. Many horses die from septic iufection or mortification as 

 as a result of these injuries. We find in severe contusions an infiltration 

 of blood into the surrounding tissues; disorganization and mortifica- 

 tion follow, and involve often the deeper seated structures. Abscesses, 

 single or multiple, may also result and call for special treatment. 



In wounds that are lacerated the amount of hemorrhage is mostly 

 inconsiderable; even very large blood vessels are thus toru apart with- 

 out iuducing a fatal result. The edges of the wound are ragged and 

 uneven. These wounds are produced by some blunt object, as where a 

 horse runs against fences, board piles, the corners of buildings, or 

 where he is struck by the pole or shafts of another team, fulling on 

 rough, irregular stones, etc. 



Treatment. — In lacerated wounds great care must at first be exercised 

 in examining or probiug to the very bottom of the rent or tear to see 

 if any foreign body be present. Very ofteu splinters of wood or bits 

 of stone or dirt are thus lodged, and unless removed prevent the wound 

 from healing; orif it should heal the wound soon opens again, discharging 

 a thin, gluey matter that is characteristic of the presence of some object 



