POISONED WOUNDS. 147 
fixed in the skin (Clichy) ; such friction is painful, and does not loosem 
these stings, since they are protected by the hair; they can be pulled! 
away with nippers from the surface where they may be seen. Often 
small abscesses form in the places where these were. Where the stings 
are numerous the inflammation extensive and manifestations general, 
stimulants (alcohol, ether, camphor, coffee) are the most efficacious. 
agents. If the swelling of the nose, pituitary or laryngeal mucous: 
membrane renders the respiration difficult and loud, and asphyxia is. 
threatened, tracheotomy should be performed. 
To protect animals against certain winged insects (breeze fly, horse-- 
fly), which are very troublesome during warm weather, giving pain and. 
producing swellings on the skin, blankets, or nets, may be used. 
Ordinarily, the skin is simply washed with solutions of strong odor- 
(tobacco, decoctions of walnut leaves, vinegar, cresyl, carbolic acid and 
2-3 % tar, asafcetida). Inflammatory symptoms are treated by shower- 
ing with water or washing with alkaline solutions. 
Virulent wounds, due to the introduction into injured fissues of a 
ferment that grows and multiplies indefinitely, present a gravity which 
varies with the malignity of the ferment. Local phenomena and gen- 
eral accidents depend exclusively on its properties : quantity is of little 
importance, since on account of the faculty of the virus for pullulation, 
the weakest doses are ordinarily sufficient to bring about infection. 
Bacteriological researches of the last fifteen years have extended the 
domain of virulent wounds: to glanders, rabies and anthrax, they have- 
added tuberculosis, tetanus and septicemia, not to mention others of 
less importance. All these infections have a period of incubation, 
which is of variable duration. Sometimes the lips of the wounds are 
yapidly overrun by an intense phlegmasia produced by the local action 
of the virus (anthrax, septicaemia); sometimes this phlegmasia appears. 
only after a few days (glanders), in other cases the wound acts as an 
ordinary simple one, granulates and cicatrizes, and weeks or months. 
may pass before the first troubles, due to the infection, are manifested 
(rabies). 
Experimentation has proved that most virus is rapidly absorbed. 
Some local conditions may retard the absorption, but generally the 
blood that circulates through the wounded region has in a few minutes 
retained and carried in its course a sufficient quantity of specific ele- 
ments to produce infection. (Renault, Davanie, Rodet). Therefore, 
a quick and rapid interference is imperative, if one wishes to prevent 
surely the dreadful consequences of virulent inoculations. 
As for venomous wounds, one must, when possible, arrest the circu- 
lation with a ligature placed above the wound. This should be washed 
freely with water, its borders squeezed, the extravasated blood and: 
the virulent matter which may have penetrated the tissues expelled. 
