WOUNDS OF THE ABDOMEN. Ill 



may be treated as simple wounds, in which case, precautions should 

 be taken to prevent matter (pus) working down through the under- 

 lying structures, and to allow it free exit. In ascertaining the 

 depth of the wound use the finger rather than the probe, lest 

 interference might convert a superficial, wound into one pene- 

 trating the abdomen. In the graver cases (6), a large dose of 

 extract of Indian hemp, say, 4 drachms, or 1 oz. of chloral hydrate 

 may be given to velieve the pain. In order to nullify the action 

 of putrefactive germs (p. 63), a solution of 1 part of creolin or 

 carbolic acid to 40 of water, or one of 15 grains of chinosol to a 

 ■pint of water, may be freely applied to the part, and introduced 

 into the wound by means of a sponge and stick, or other suitable 

 arrangement. Any one of these applications may be used on an 

 exposed part of the bowel without fear of ill consequences. Ready 

 escape for matter should be provided, the knife being used if 

 necessary. Although the employment of stitches to a wounded 

 bowel is not very likely to give good results in horse practice, to 

 be effective, they should not be further apart than a twelfth of an 

 inch ; the turned-in serous (outer) surfaces should be brought 

 together by the sutures ; and fine carbolised silk thread may 

 be used. If any internal organ protrudes, it should be carefully 

 washed with the antiseptic solution, and an attempt made to 

 return it, except in the case of omentum (p. 282), which has 

 become injured. Such protruding portion of omentum may be 

 safely cut off. The wound should finally 'be disinfected by the 

 antiseptic lotion, and closed with stitches; due precaution as to 

 drainage being taken. The abdomen may be bound round with 

 a sheet. In order to keep up the strength, while giving the 

 bowels the least possible amount of work to do, food in a concen- 

 trated form should be given, such as skimmed milk with the yolks 

 of hard-boiled eggs mashed up in it, oatmeal gruel, etc. Boiled 

 barley and a linseed mash, now and then, may also be of use. 

 If constipation ensues, a little linseed oil, say, a quarter of a pint, 

 may be mixed through the food three times a day. As peritonitis 

 (p. 114) is an extremely fatal disease, efforts should be directed 

 to prevent its occurrence, and, if it sets in, to mitigate its effects. 

 Proper precautions should be taken to prevent pus from burrowing 

 down and forming abscesses. 



Wounds of the Chest. 



These result from the same causes as wounds of the abdomen 

 (p. 110), with the addition of injuries by broken ribs, of the 

 lungs, and the membrane which covers them and lines the chest. 



