323 COMPENDIUM OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



escaped tlie injury. Should they have been 

 wounded, let the wound be very neatl}^ stitched 

 up With a small needle and waxed silk, and 

 then gtmiy replaced within the belly, taking 

 care first tr remove any dirt or other matter 

 that may auatie to them. The wound is then 

 to be caret uiiy closed as we have before di- 

 rected, and 'supported if possible with band- 

 age : the end of ci.*^ i;ik however with which 

 the bowel is sewed snould be kept out of the 

 external wound. Bleedinir and a clvster are 

 particularly necessary : bran mashes, vvitli 

 strong gruel, or a little sweet oatmeal stirred 

 into each n)a.5h, is the most proper diet. If 

 the bowels have been wounded, it is absolutely 

 requisite to keep the horse from eating hay or 

 straw, or any hard food ; for as the digestive 

 process is far from being perfected in the 

 horse's stomach, the hay cr straw might ar- 

 rive at the wounded part in a state capable of 

 doing grerit injury. In wounds of the chest 

 nearly tne same treatment is required : a pur- 

 gative however may be given in such cases, 

 before inflannnatiom has taken place; but 

 whenever this happens, whether it be in con- 

 sequence of these wounds or of wounds of the 



