APPENDIX. — PUNCl'URED WOUNDS. ! 7 



nail ; but the froir is commonlv of a s(;ftei' anii 

 more spungy nature. When tlie coffin 

 joint is wounded, there is danger of an in- 

 curable lameness from the joint becoming 

 stiff; but by proper management the wound is 

 often- closed in a short time, and the free mo- 

 tion of the bones preserved. (See JVounds 

 of Joints, under the head Wounds cj Caxi- 

 ties.) Whenever tiie foot is wounded by 

 a nail, it is necessary immediately to open the 

 orifice in the horny matter by means of a 

 drawing knife: if the joint be wounded, 

 synovia or joint oil will issue from the wound;, 

 but in very small quantity. An experienced 

 person can easily ascertain this point still 

 more certainly by tracing the wound with a 

 probe. The treatment of this kind of wound 

 will be described in the chapter on IVounds of 

 Cai)ities ; but when the joint has escaped the 

 injury, after enlarging the opening made by 

 the nail in the horny matter, ar.d cutting away 

 the horn from the contiguous parts, until it 

 becomes very thin, ;i little tincture of benzoin 

 is to be poured into the wound ; "the stimulus 

 of which, so far from being injurious as in 

 lacerated wounds, will soon bring on a secre- 

 tion of liealthy matter ; a little tow, or lint, 



