APPENDIX. — WOUNDS. 309 



If the horse be in good condition, and 

 have not lost much blood from the wound, 



cock just cut off being stuck into the comb, will soon adhere, aud 

 grow as it did upon the leg. A respectable author relates tl>e 

 case of a man who accidentally stepped on- a keen instrument, 

 and nearly divided his foot : all the boues> tendons, &c. were 

 divided, except the bone going to the little toe ; he bled pro- 

 fusely, and fainted, by which the hemorrhage was stopped. 

 A surgeon then brought the divided parts together, and secured 

 them with splints and bandage. The man was thoroughlj 

 cured in a short time, and the foot became as perfect us the 

 other. Surgeons are now so convinced of the power of nature to 

 heal simple incised wounds, when the divided parts are kept in 

 contact with each other, without the assistance of any spirit, 

 balsam, or salve ; which they know rather impedes than expedites 

 the cure, that a practitioner would be laughed at, were he to 

 adopt so absurd a practice : it appears, indeed, that balsami* 

 were first used on account of their glutinous quality, in order to 

 keep the parts more completely in contact : with the same view, 

 white of egg, gum-water, and other things of the same nature 

 were emplo^'ed. It is to be lamented, that tlie public are still so 

 prejudiced in favour of stimulating preparations, such as, friar's 

 balsam, tincture of myrrh and aloes, and above all the famous 

 Riga balsam, which is prefeiable from beiiig less stimulating, 

 that a veterinary surgeon can hardly venture to trust nature a 

 little in the treatment of wounds, without being accused of negli- 

 gence. It may be depended upon, however, that in every case 

 cf simple incised wounds, where these preparations have been 

 thought to effect a cure, they have not in the least contributed to 

 it : nature has been the restorer, in spite of the obstacles opposed 

 to lier efforts. Wounds that have degenerated into ulcers, either 

 from bad management, or from the parts having been lacerated 

 •r bruised, often require the application of •tiuuilants ; but even 



