144 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
serious, is the introduction of this injurious substance into the traumatic 
-center ; if, however, the extent and the depth of the lesions are suffi- 
cient to influence the accidents that may follow, by opening a more or 
less wide entrance to absorption, they have only a secondary impor- 
tance. 
For a long time it was believed that there was a rapid and complete 
absorption of the soluble poisons, venoms and virus; but experiments 
have shown that if most of these agents diffuse easily, the absorption 
-of them is influenced by numerous circumstances, and, during a certain 
time, a part remains on the wound, as well as in the superficial layers of 
the wounded tissues. Among these agents, there are those which spread 
-quietly in the tissues, and are absorbed without producing any local 
reaction; others, possessed of very active phlogogenous properties, 
which gave rise all round the traumas to intense inflammatory mani- 
~festations; and also others, caustic in character, which produce the 
scarification of a peritraumatic zone more or less extensive. 
Poisoned Wounds Proper—and under this name we include those in 
which are deposited vegetable poisons (alkaloids), mineral (mercurial, 
-arsenical, carbolic acid, iodoform) or putrid poisons (ptomaines)—carry 
with them a requirement of the first importance: immediately and pro- 
fusely irrigate the wound with water or an antiseptic solution, thus freeing 
it from the toxic matter which has not yet penetrated the surrounding 
structures ; remove either by ablation or cauterization (according to the 
nature of the case and the toxicity of the substance), the superficial layer 
-of the trauma or keep soaking the affected part in a tepid antiseptic 
baths and administer internally an emetic, stimulants or tonics, or 
agents with special therapeutic properties (antidotes). 
The venomous wounds that we have to treat in France are made by 
adders, the vpere aspic and the vipere peliade (Kauffmann). The former 
“is the more dangerous; its venom often proves fatal to small animals 
(dogs, sheep, goats) ; it may kill large animals also, as is recorded in 
many instances.. The second makes wounds more superficial and less 
‘dangerous: it frequently, however, causes the death of small animals 
when they have not been properly treated. Out of sixty ewes of a 
flock, bitten by adders, fourteen died (Roche). Channel (from Bourg) 
has recorded that a brood mare which was bitten on the udder, died 
five days afterwards. Krebschmar also treated, without success, a dog 
bitten on the lip. Cases of this kind are not rare. 
The therapeutics consists: 1. In arresting the circulation in the 
wounded region, to prevent or to stop the penetration of the venom into 
the system. 2. In removing that which may remain in the wound, 
3. In contending against local and general accidents, 
First, if the region permit it, a ligature should be applied, and tied 
‘somewhat strongly above the wound, to arrest the circulation. An 
