WOUNDS. 413; 
white lotion compresses, alum water) ; but generally a blistering preparation. 
is applied over the seat of the injury and extending some distance round it. 
This has several advantages ; it hastens the steps of the bony inflammation, 
and by the pains it gives rise to, it insures’ the immobility of the leg; 
besides deciding the owner to grant his horse a useful rest in seeing the 
swelling and the effects produced by the blister. After ten or twelve days, if” 
lameness remains, the blister is renewed. Return to work ought not to. 
take place before five or six weeks after the accident, when, by the 
repairing osteitis, the bone has recuperated part ofits solidity. Often, ata. 
later epoch, a diffused exostosis develops at the point of the contusion ; 
if it reaches large dimensions or produces lameness, alterative applica—. 
tions (red ointment, bichromate of potass ointment) or cauterization are- 
indicated. 
II. 
WOUNDS. » 
In pricks, generally the point lacerates the periosteum, slides over the- 
surface of the bone or breaks off; the spongy tissue may be penetrated 
quite deep. Sharp instruments injure bones in various thickness; in 
small animals, the section is sometimes complete, there is a true fracture. . 
Bruised wounds (kicks, crushings) are the most frequent. 
Made aseptic, bony wounds repair regularly; even when the perios- 
teum has been largely involved, the bone becomes covered with granu- 
lations, there: is not the slightest formation of necrosis. Minute dis- 
infection is then essential. Sublimate (1 p. 1000), phenic acid or cresy! 
(4-5 p. 100) used in irrigations, baths or sprays, clean the traumatic 
center; wadded dressing, phenicated or iodoformed vaseline, then pro- 
tect the tissues against external germs. 
If the wound suppurates, sometimes the pus collects between the- 
periosteum and the bone (sub-periostic abscess of Chassaignac), or the 
periosteum is destroyed upon a wide surface. Free incisions, drainage, . 
washings, will prevent the retention of the pus, its putrefying in the 
bottom of wounds, and will protect against serious alterations. A superficial 
and limited necrosis does not constitute a great complication: the work _ 
of elimination goes ordinarily in a regular way and the wound, once-- 
free of the foreign body, is soon filled by granulations. (See Wecrosis.) 
Suppurative traumatic osteo-myelitis gives rise to a large swelling of the- 
region ‘and to high febrile reaction. It may rapidly extend to the totality~ 
of the bone, and become complicated with septicemia or purulent. 
infection. (See Caries.) . 
In the treatment of contused wounds of bones, as in that of contusions, . 
