310 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



ular lips. The skin may be torn loose over a wide surface, 

 and by displacing it so as to expose the subjacent tissues, 

 they are found shapeless, composed of remains of muscles, 

 the ends of blood-vessels, torn tendons and nerves, at which 

 surface are collected coagulated blood and serum. The 

 periphery of the wound is also more or less bruised, infil- 

 trated and dissected by the blood, and also, in itself, consti- 

 tutes an excellent environment for the culture of micro-oi^- 

 ganisms. 



TREATMENT. — The general directions are the same 

 as in the preceding instances. Usually, the spacious wound 

 must be left uncovered. Shower-baths, and continual irri- 

 gations of cold water, constitute excellent therapeutic ex- 

 pedients. When the region permits, antiseptic baths give 

 satisfactory results. Powdered carbolic preparations find 

 their greatest value in these wounds. When these direc- 

 tions are properly followed and rigorously applied it is some- 

 times astonishing what success is obtained. A cure is often 

 effected in cases that appear very grave. Dollar's horse 

 recovered in sixteen days and our case was perfectly well 

 in three weeks ; and Cadiot and Almy report a no less re- 

 markable cure due to antiseptic baths. 



GUNSHOT WOUNDS. 



On account of their peculiar etiology these wounds are 

 studied with special interest everywhere. 



ETIOLOGY. — Wounds by firearms are not rare among 

 hounds. Except in war they are not encountered in the 

 horse, unless through some accidental cause. They result 

 from discharges of grains of shot, from balls of revolvers 

 and guns, or from bullets. Guns loaded with shot, at short 

 range, cause accidents similar to that of balls. When fired 

 at long range the shot scatter and riddle the skin without 

 penetrating more deeply. 



