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CHAPTER VII. 



ACCIDENTS, ETC. 



Guts, Bites, and Tears Fractures Dislocations Haemorrhage Ruptures. 



CUTS, BITES, AND TEARS. 



THE PRESENT division of my subject is that comprising the accidents 

 to which the dog is subject. Of these, cuts, bites, and tears are 

 better left alone, unless the separation of the two edges of the 

 skin is so great as to occasion deformity in healing. In such a 

 case, a few stitches may be put in, not with a view to procure 

 what in human surgery is called 4 union by the first intention,' but 

 to enable the two surfaces to unite by granulation. It is a 

 curious fact, that this ' union by the first intention ' is peculiar to 

 man, and therefore the treatment of cuts, &c., in the dog, 

 must be conducted upon different principles to those which are 

 most serviceable in human surgery. When these accidents occur 

 about the legs, it is better to avoid using any stimulating appli- 

 cation, but to insert the ligatures, if necessary, and then put on 

 a bandage, which may be kept wet if there is much inflammation. 

 But in every case, when the ligature or bandage is required, 



