CHAPTER V 



ACCIDENTAL AND OPERATION WOUNDS ; CONTUSIONS 



A ' WOUND ' is defined as ' a solution of continuit}- of parts 

 naturally united' (Hoblyn), whilst the term 'contusion' is 

 given to the result of violent contact with some blunt article, 

 the tissues being bruised, but the skin not broken. 



\\''ounds may legitimatel\- be divided under two headings 

 — VIZ., accidental and surgical or operative — the latter being 

 always intentionally produced b\' the instruments of the 

 surgeon, and therefore much easier to deal \\'ith from an 

 antiseptic point of x'iew than the former, because they are 

 clean cut, and are made \\ith clean instruments. 



Accidental wounds in dogs and cats are frequenth- met 

 ^^•ith, and the most common causes are from fighting, from 

 gun accidents, and from violent contact \\-ith sticks, stones, 

 wheels of vehicles, sharp palings, etc. They may be lacerated, 

 punctured, incised, or contused, the names explaining them- 

 selves, and, lastly, the term ' gunshot ' is applied to any 

 inflicted with a gun or rifle. 



Accidental Wounds. 



In the dog and cat accidental wounds, as a rule, heal very 

 well when properly attended to and the animal is prevented 

 from causing undue irritation by constant licking. In the cat, 

 particularly, this licking of the wound is often a source of 

 trouble and greatly retards healing, owing to the roughness 

 of the tongue. The chief principles to observe are those 



47 



