304 WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



dies without rallying in spite of any form of treatment that may 

 be tried. 



Symptoms of a very similar character, as a result of extensive 

 hemorrhage, are sometimes presented, and must not be mistaken 

 for " shock." The same may be said to occur occasionally in the 

 dog when under the influence of chloroform. It is believed that 

 the symptoms of "shock" presented are due to an irritation or 

 concussion of the sensitive nerves, producing reflex paralysis of 

 the vasomotor or centre of the medulla oblongata. 



In connection with the above symptoms we occasionally see dis- 

 turbance of a function — that is, when certain muscles are injured 

 and their nerves are separated, or when any of the joints or cavities 

 of the body are opened. The symptom which appears when the 

 muscles are divided or cut is a loss of power in that region covered 

 by the affected muscle. The symptoms after the separation of 

 peripheric nerves consist in the loss of movement and a partial 

 loss of sensation. The latter is extremely hard to recognize in the 

 dog on account of the numerous anastomoses which occur between 

 the branches of the fine nerves of the skin and also of the injured 

 nerves in the immediate vicinity. We also observe a marked 

 decrease in temperature in the paralyzed or partially paralyzed part. 



The Course of the Healing Process in a 'Wound. 



The healing of a wound depends to such a large extent on its form, 

 condition, location, and treatment, that from a practical standpoint 

 we may generally separate the processes into, first, healing by tem- 

 porary union; second, healing by second intention or suppuration ; 

 third, healing under a dry scab; fourth, healing under a moist scab. 



Healing by First Intention. This may only be expected when 

 the edges of the wound are smooth and sharp, due to outs with 

 sharp objects that are clean or surgical wounds which can be easily 

 closed with sti!ehes and covered by dressings. The microscopical 

 examination shows that the healing of such wounds often occurs 

 within twenty-four hours, and the adhesions form so quickly that 

 the edges of the wound can only be separated by exerting a certain 

 amount of strength. The wound is covered by a narrow, thin 

 blood-scab; its edges appear normal or only slightly swollen or 

 inflamed. The scab drops off after a period of five or six days, 

 leaving a somewhat depressed, pale-red cicatrix. This gradually 



