PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 311 



SYMPTOMS. — The physiognomy of gunshot wounds 

 varies with the kind of projectiles and the distance at which 

 they are fired. The balls of the Chassepot, the Gras gun 

 and the Lebel gun have no different effect, except in the 

 power of penetration. 



When important viscera are affected, animals rapidly 

 succumb, sometimes instantaneously, and at other times af- 

 ter walking but a few steps. The haemorrhage is usually in- 

 significant and if no important organ is injured the animal ex- 

 hibits no particular symptom. Salle relates the case of a mule 

 that was accidentally wounded by a ball from a Gras mus- 

 ket. Upon being struck the animal stumbled, and then re- 

 sumed its journey. Donough cites the curious case of a red 

 setter that received a ball in the sub-lumbar region without 

 appearing seriously indisposed, and yet the omentum pro- 

 truded and was torn into shreds. 



Projectiles may pass through the bodies of animals or 

 remain in the tissues. In the former case they produce two 

 perceptibly different wounds. The entrance wound appears 

 to have been made with a punch. It is generally small and 

 hollow in the infundibulum. The exit wound is always 

 more extensive. The dimensions are in proportion to the 

 distance. The greater the distance the more extensive is 

 the exit wound, whatever may be the pattern of the gun. 

 It is often very large, with wide open and projecting edges. 

 With the Gras and Lebel rifles at short range the wound of 

 exit and that of entrance do not differ much in size. Grape- 

 shots, small cannon bails, shells and splinters of shells cause 

 frightful lesions. 



PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY.— Whether the projec- 

 tile passes through the body or stops in the tissues it exca- 

 vates' a passage of variable extent and regularity. The pro- 

 jectile may remain just beneath the skin, penetrate into a 

 large cavity or traverse the entire body. It may excavate 



