WOUNDS 219 
pregnancy this tendency is enormously increased, and it is 
no uncommon thing to find a cart-mare in this condition, 
with legs, as the owner terms it, ‘as thick as gate-posts.’ 
A prick to the foot, with the lymphatics of the limb in this 
state, is extremely likely to end in septic infection of the 
leg, for there appears to be no doubt but that invasion of 
the lymphatics with septic matter is favoured by a sluggish 
stream. Also, in the case of a patient in the advanced 
stages of pregnancy, it must be remembered that, no matter 
how great may be the need, one is debarred, for obvious 
reasons, from using the slings. 
Treatment.—In a simple case—and by ‘ simple’ here we 
mean the case in which the injury is discovered early, and 
pus has not yet commenced to form—our first duties are to 
give the wound free drainage, and to maintain it in an 
aseptic condition. The first of these objects is to be arrived 
at by paring down the horn in a funnel-shaped fashion 
over the seat of the prick. It is, perhaps, even better to 
thin the horn down to the sensitive structures for some 
little distance round the injury. By this latter method 
pressure from inflammatory exudate is lessened, and the 
after-formation of pus, if unfortunate enough to occur, the 
more readily detected, and the less likely to spread up- 
wards. The matter of asepsis may then be attended to. 
When the puncture is sufficiently large to admit of it, the 
antiseptic dressing is best applied by means of the probe. 
This instrument is thinly wrapped with tow, or other 
absorbent material, so as to form a small swab. Dipped in 
a suitable solution (as, for example, Zine Chloride, Spts. 
Hydrarg. Perchlor., Carbolic Acid, or any other that 
suggests itself), the swab is inserted into the prick, and the 
wound conveniently mopped clean. A further portion of 
the medicated tow is then pushed partially into the wound, 
and allowed to remain in position. The foot is subsequently 
wrapped in a clean bag, and kept free from dirt. This 
dressing should be repeated twice daily. 
If the prick is in a dangerous position, and deep enough 
to occasion alarm, our precautions to prevent the formation 
