486 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
of arresting hemorrhage, since it disturbs healing least and gives the 
greatest security against secondary hemorrhage. 
SUTURES. 
After the bleeding has been controlled and all foreiga bodies 
removed from the wound, the gaping of the wound is noticeable. It 
is caused by the contraction of the muscles and elastic fibers, and its 
degree depends on the extent, direction, and nature of the cut. This 
gaping will hinder the healing process so that it must be overcome by 
bringing the edges together by some sort of sutures or pins or by a 
bandage applied from below upward. As suture material, ordinary 
cotton thread is good, if well sterilized, as are also horsehair, catgut, 
silk, and various kinds of wire. If the suture is made too tight the 
subsequent swelling may cause the stitch to tear out. In order to 
make a firm suture the depth of the stitch should be the same as 
the distance the stitch is from the edge of the wound. The deeper 
the suture the more tissue is embraced and the fewer the number of 
stitches required. In tying a suture the square or reef knot should 
be used. Closure of wounds by means of adhesive plaster, collodion, 
and metal clamps is not practiced to any great-extent in veterinary 
practice. ; 
PROCESS OF HEALING. 
In those cases where perfect stoppage of bleeding, perfect coapta- 
tion of the edges of the wound, and perfect cleanliness are obtained, 
healing occurs within three days, without the formation of graula- 
tions, pus, or proud flesh, by what is termed first intention. If 
wounds do not heal in this manner they will gap somewhat and 
become warm and painful. Healing then occurs by granulation or 
suppuration, which is termed healing by second intention. The 
sides of the wound become covered with granulation tissue which 
may fill the wound and sometimes overlap the lips, forming a fungoid 
growth called proud flesh. Under favorable conditions the edges of 
the wound appear to grow together by the end of the first week, and 
the whole surface gradually becomes dry, and finally covered with 
pigmented skin, when the wound is healed. The cause of pus forma- 
tion in wounds is usually the presence of germs. For this reason the 
utmost care should be adopted to keep clean wounds aseptic, or free 
from germs, and to make unclean wounds antiseptic by using anti- 
septic fluids to kill the microbes present in the wound. The less the 
injurious action of this fluid on the wound and the greater its power 
to kill germs, the more valuable it becomes. All antiseptics are not 
equally destructive, and some germs are more susceptible to one 
antiseptic than to another. The most important are (1) bichlorid 
of mercury, which is to be preferred on horses. It becomes weakened 
