288 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



region of a wound in which anatomical elements are des- 

 troyed and are no longer living tissues. The middle zone 

 is formed by tissues upon which the action of the trauma 

 has not been sufficiently severe to destroy them. The cellu- 

 lar elements are only "benumbed," in which state they be- 

 come easy prey for micro-organisms. 



In the peripheral zone the tissues have preserved their 

 integrity but the general physiognomy of the region is 

 changed by vascular modifications due to the shock. 



Whatever may be its form the traiunatic center presents 

 the contents, and a wall or boundary. The contents are 

 composed of a cellular waste, extravasated blood and lymph, 

 with which is sometimes mingled a substance from a neigh- 

 boring cavity. The wall is linear, sinuous or anfractuous. 

 In wounds made by cutting instruments it may be regular, 

 the anatomical elements having only been separated, but in 

 those made by contusions, the tissues constituting the wall, 

 are bruised and soaked with blood and serosity. 



SYMPTOMS. — The symptoms of traumatisms are both 

 local and general. The local symptoms manifest themselves 

 at fhe injured point, while the general are felt over the entire 

 system. Verneuil has also distinguished remote symptoms 

 which appear in organs more or less remote from the wound, 

 that have not been injured by the initial violence. 



The local symptoms are separation of the wall of the 

 traumatic center, pain, and the haemorrhage. The separa- 

 tion is more or less evident at all times, but is especially 

 well marked in wounds made with sharp instruments, and 

 in regions where the skin is tight, e. g. the abdomen and 

 limbs. It is, however, non-existent in wounds from contus- 

 ion, in which instance the traumatic center may be sunken 

 and forced into neighboring regions. The pain varies in in- 

 tensity with the character of the traumatized center. It is not 

 so acute in clean-cut wounds, but is very excessive when the 



