74 WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 



In making the stitches, the edges of the wound should be accu- 

 rately brought together, in the natural position of the parts ; care 

 being taken to avoid any incurling of th« skin. The wire, pin, 

 carbolised catgut, or thread, as the case may be, should, with the 

 aid of a pin director or curved needle, be passed through one side, 

 and out at the other. The sutures should be about half an inch 

 from each edge, about an inch from each other, and should go deep 

 enough to obtain sufficient hold. While this is being done, the lips 

 should be held together by an assistant. The general rule is to 

 tie the middle stitch first : this, however, is of no great matter. 

 The chief precaution required is that they be introduced at corre- 

 spondent opposite points, so that, when they come to be drawn 

 tight, they meet each other in straight or parallel lines, and con- 

 fine the sides of the wound evenly and uniformly together, without 

 wrinkling the skin or giving the parts any harsh or unnatural 

 constraint. If a suture be found to cause irritation, it should be 

 at once removed. As a rule, sutures should not be kept in a wound 

 longer than three days. ' If, however, the suture performs a useful 

 end, and neither gives rise to irritation, nor becomes putrid, it may 

 be left undisturbed. 



5. OBTAIN BEST. — This may be done by slings, splints, ban- 

 dages, tying the horse's head up, the administration of chloral 

 hydrate or Indian hemp, or even by applying a blister near a joint 

 so as to prevent movement. 



6. DRESS THE WOUND.— Already inflicted wounds should be 

 dressed according to the same principles as those of operations (p. 

 69 et seq.). If the wound is suppurating — ^that is, if pus (matter) 

 be present in it — it should be cleaned thoroughly with warm 

 water ; then disinfect it with one of the solutions given on p. 67, 

 and apply tannoform, iodoform, or a saturated solution of iodoform 

 in eucalyptus oil. A suppurating wound will generally require to 

 be dressed a couple of times a day. If bacteria have not gained 

 entrance into the wound, interference should be limited to guarding 

 it against their invasion. In this case, the antiseptic employed 

 should not be stronger than carbolic acid or creolin ^ oz. to the 

 pint of water ; a saturated solution of boric acid in water ; or 

 tannoform. After covering the wound with five or six layers of 

 antiseptic cotton-wool, it may be left untouched for six or seven 

 days, by which time it ought to have healed in a perfectly healthy 

 manner, and require no further special treatment. After having 

 dressed the wound in the manner described, it may be got to heal 

 under favourable conditions, even when there is some discharge, by 

 placing a thick covering of antiseptic wood-wool, or antiseptic 



