302 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



lent environment for the growth of the micro-organisms it 

 may contain. Before the application of antiseptic methods 

 suppuration and gangrene were not exceptional termina- 

 tions. When important organs are injured the prognosis 

 is still more grave. Letulle almost lost a horse on which 

 a bite had opened the carotid artery and the jugular vein. 

 Cavalin and Bournay report the loss of a horse from a bite 

 in the trachea. Ismert reports an inflammation of the with- 

 ers following the bite of a horse. He found it was necessary 

 to kill a magnificent Barbary steed the withers of which had 

 been so badly mutilated that the apophyses of three verte- 

 bra were denuded ; two were literally ground to pieces, and 

 bony fragments were found in the bedding. 



POISONED WOUNDS. 



Poisoned wounds generally have the same physiognomy 

 as punctures, as it is nearly always after penetration with 

 a sharp point that the poison is introduced into the tissues. 

 The nature of the active substance changes the appearance 

 of the local lesion and sometimes stamps a special cast on 

 the general symptoms. The substance which soils the wound 

 may be a mineral poison, a venomous element, or a virus. 



Whatever may be the active substances, they provoke 

 various modifications at the point of inoculation. They may 

 kill the anatomical elements wrhich they contact, they 

 may make an impression on the neighboring elements, or 

 act on the entire system, by penetrating into the vessels 

 which supply the wounded tissue. They are rarely ever to- 

 tally absorbed. A certain portion of the poison remains at 

 the point of inoculation for a considerable period after the 

 wound is inflicted. This must not be overlooked, as it indi- 

 cates the necessity of cleansing the poisoned wound even 

 though it is not one of recent date. 



