316 WOUNDS AND THEIB TREATMENT. 



it is advisable to muzzle the animal (Fig. 71), not only to prevent 

 the patient from licking the wound, but in order to properly apply 

 the sprinkling powder, which is less dan- 

 ^°' '^^' gerous than iodoform. The best powder 



to use is boric-creolin (1 part of creolin to 

 40 or 50 parts of boric acid), naphthalin 

 or sulphonal (1 part to 5 parts of starch). 

 An open wound generally requires 

 antiseptic washings daily. It frequently 

 happens that granulating wounds, espe- 

 cially when they have been subjected to exposure to air, may 

 at some period lose their power of healing and become converted 

 into ulcers. 



Ulcers or Ulcerations. By this we understand a granulating 

 surface which does not heal on account of the purulent destruction 

 of the granular tissue. Wounds are changed into ulcers when 

 they are continually irritated by some mechanical or chemical irri- 

 tant, or as a consequence of the skin becomiog inflamed or necrosed 

 from pressure (muzzling, etc.). Callous ulcers and fistulous ulcers 

 are the most difficult to treat. The former are superficial ulcers 

 with hard callus, having raised edges, and a whitish, hard, bacon- 

 like surface. This is covered with a thin unhealthy secretion. 

 They may form sinuses or canals, which very often contain at the 

 bottom a foreign body or ulcerated tissue. They may also lead to 

 some of the glands. These pipes are called fistulse or fistular 

 canals. 



The treatment of ulcers is, to a certain extent, the same as that 

 of wounds — that is, to follow all the antiseptic rules. The use of 

 tine, benzoin eomp., salicylic acid, napthalin, powdered camphor, 

 or boric-acid ointment is advisable. We may remove callous ulcers 

 by surgical means and convert them into fresh wounds with a knife, 

 paring the tissue at the bottom of the ulcers, and treat them as 

 indicated in cases of fresh wounds. Caustic agents, agents, such as 

 nitrate of silver, tincture of iodine, etc., as a rule, produce little or 

 no good efEects. If the tissue surrounding the ulcers is hard and 

 rigid, preventing contraction of the ulcerated area, and the healing 

 process, we must perform circumcision of the part, as transplanta- 

 tion is not practicable in the dog. We cut about 1 cm. from the 

 border of the ulcer over its entire thickness, keeping the wound 



