APPENDIX. — WOUNDS. 3 1 5 



few days after the accident, and until that 

 period it woidd be highly improper to use any 

 kind of pressure, or attempt to bring the sides 

 of the wound into contact. The first thing 

 to.be done in these wounds is to extract the 

 ball, should it have lodged; but we must not 

 employ any violent means to effect this, as it 

 is more easily done after the dead parts have 

 separated and a healthy suppuration has taken 

 place. Sometimes the ball penetrates so far 

 as to be feit near the opposite side of the 

 part : where an incision should tlien be made in 

 order to extract it. Whenever matter ponds 

 up or is confined in any kind of wound, it is 

 proper to make such an opening as will allow 

 it to escape freely : setons are sometimes 

 employed for this purpose. (See Wounds of 

 Cavities and Punctured Wounds.) In gun- 

 shot vvounds it is improper to bleed, as he- 

 morrhage often happens wlien the dead parts 

 separate : in other respects they are to be 

 treated as we have above described. Indeed 

 their treatment must depend greatly on the 

 importance and situation of the wounded part, 

 as the ball may penetrate a joint or the cavity 

 of the chest or belly. (See Wounds of Ca- 

 vities.) 



