166 THE HORSE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 



for they must be manufactured by the various blood-forming 

 organs. 



Pain results from injury to the sensitive nerves. The blunter 

 the cutting instrument and the slower the separation of the tissues, 

 the greater is the pain. There is much variation in the ability of 

 different horses to bear pain. 



Gaping refers to the separation of the margins of the wound. A 

 transverse wound always shows this symptom more than a wound 

 in the same direction with the fibers of the injured tissues. Gaping 

 is most pronounced in incised wounds. 



Disturbed function is evidenced by such symptoms as lameness, 

 impaired mastication, or inabihty to swallow. 



In the treatment of wounds the first thought should be the 

 arrest of hemorrhage, then the removal of foreign bodies, and 

 finally the dressing of the wound. 



Arrest of hemorrhage normally is brought about by the con- 

 traction and retraction of the ends of the severed vessel's walls and 

 the formation of a blood-clot. When these natural processes are 

 not sufficient, artificial means to control the loss of blood must be 

 employed. These consist of the following: 



Ligation or tying the bleeding vessel. For this purpose silk 

 or catgut is used. Artery forceps are useful to pick up the injured 

 vessel so that the ligature may be applied. 



Compression by the application of a hard pad or bandage. 

 Even pressure with the finger over a cut vessel gives temporary 

 relief. An elastic bandage, towel, or other form of tourniquet 

 tied on the side nearest the heart is a temporary method of restrain- 

 ing bleeding. 



Torsion or twisting of the vessel on its long axis retards the flow 

 of blood so that a clot forms. 



Heat, in the form of a red-hot iron, is useful where smaller 

 vessels are wounded. It also assists in destroying infectious 

 material which may have gained entrance to the wound, and leads 

 to the formation of a scab to seal the wound against subsequent 

 infection. 



Chemical agents, like iron chlorid and oil of turpentine, have 

 been used with more or less success, but are only serviceable when 

 the hemorrhage is slight. 



Removal of foreign bodies should be the second step in wound 

 treatment. Pieces of wood, wire, glass, slivers of bone, and clots 



