APPENDIX. — WOUNDS. 301 



alone, the lips of the wound should be neatly 

 sewed, so as to be held firmly in contact with 

 each other, with waxed thread several times 

 doubled ; and if the situation of the wound 

 will admit of it, a bandage or roller should be 

 afterward applied to assist in the accomplish- 

 ment of this end, and render the stitches less 

 painful. But how different from this is the 

 practice of farriers, ignorant of the animal 

 economy, and the wonderful power with which 

 the Almighty has endued the animal system, 

 of recovering itself when injured, and of re- 

 producing flesh that has been destroyed! 

 They officiously prevent this desirable union 

 by putting tents (that is, lint or tow moistened 

 with some stimulating liquid) between the lips 

 of the wound, by which they are effectually 

 hindered from cohering, however naturally 

 disposed to unite : but this is not the only evil 

 of the practice. In extensive wounds the 

 injured parts are so irritated by exposure and 

 their applications, that mortification is some- 

 times the conseqence. Far better than this 

 would it be, to leave the wound to nature, 

 merely keeping it clean, and, when the first 

 inflammation has subsided and white matter 

 appears, bringing the separated parts as near 



