WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT. ‘499 
Treatment.—The preventive treatment consists in avoiding all the 
influences that tend to disturb the nutrition of the tissues, such as 
excessive cold or heat or continuous pressure. Gangrene following 
decubitus may be prevented by using soft bedding and frequently 
turning the animal from one side to the other. In dry gangrene 
moist heat in the form of poultices or anointing the tissue with oils 
and fats will be found beneficial in hastening the dead tissue to 
slough off. When the outer skin begins to suppurate, it should be 
removed with a pair of pincers, and the patch treated as an open 
wound. In moist gangrene the tissue should be thoroughly disin- 
fected with a 3 per cent solution of compound cresol, or particularly 
an alcoholic tincture of camphor. Continuous irritation with anti- 
septic fluids prevents the accumulation and absorption of poisonous 
liquids. Incisions into the dead tissue may be made, and when 
sloughing commences the tissue should be removed with forceps and 
the resulting wound treated as in dry gangrene. 
ULCERATION. 
An ulcer is a circumscribed area of necrosis occurring on the skin 
or mucous membrance and covered with granulation tissue. It is a 
process of destruction, and when this process is going on faster than 
regeneration can take place, we have a gnawing, or eating, ulcer. 
When such an ulcer increases rapidly in size it is termed a phagedenic 
ulcer. A fungoid ulcer is one in which the bottom of the ulcer pro- 
jects beyond the edge of the skin. These ulcers secrete milky or 
‘bloody-white liquid called ichor. When the ulcer is of an ashen or 
leaden color, with the bottom and sides formed of dense, hard con- 
nective tissue, which gives but little discharge and is not sensitive, it 
is termed callous, torpid, or indolent ulcer. 
Causes.—As in the case of gangrene, disturbances of circulation are 
among the most frequent causes. A wound to a tissue with slight 
recuperative power may be followed by ulceration, as in tumors. 
Certain germs may produce ulcers, as the glanders bacilli, which 
cause the ulcerations on the nasal septum in glanders. 
Treatment.—This consists in removing the exciting cause at once. 
The secretions of the ulcer should be washed off with antiseptic solu- 
tions and the formation of granulation tissues stimulated by antisep- 
tic salves, such as carbolated vaseline, lead ointment, or by dressings 
‘of caper, Air should be kept fret the ulcer by occlusive dress- 
ings. Where the ulcers are inflamed, warm lead water or lead water 
and laudanum will be found efficacious. Callous ulcers are best re- 
moved by a curette, knife, or hot iron and then treated like a common 
wound. Mechanical irritation should be avoided. 
