318 WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



any inflammatory symptoms. Later the inflammatory symptoms 

 may appear. 



Beside the swollen condition, the animal may present symptoms 

 of pain, especially at the time of the injury, and later on we find 

 the injured region very tender to the touch. We may also find 

 a crushed muscle which will no longer contract, or a torn nerve 

 that does not convey sensation or motion. 



The further course of the wound depends to a great extent on 

 the amount of the injury. If the skin is crushed in such a man- 

 ner that all the vessels are torn, it will become necrosed from 

 deficient nutrition, and, as a result, we see a putrid process going 

 on as indicated in the discharge, which contains septic blood and 

 broken-down tissue. The same is to be expected if the skin is 

 deprived of nutrition, caused by the destruction of the bloodvessel 

 supplying it. 



This condition is materially different from a contusion where 

 the skin has been removed; but if the integrity of the skin is 

 maintained, the subcutaneous secretions under it are generally 

 absorbed very rapidly. The soft parts -which are lacking in 

 vitality are absorbed, and are gradually replaced by a new con- 

 nective tissue in exactly the same way as healing under a moist 

 scab. Exceptions to this termination occur occasionally, and we 

 may sometimes find a cyst, which is a hollow cavity filled with 

 a yellowish-red liquid and enclosed in a capsule of connective 

 tissue. In very rare instances this may be filled with calcareous 

 concretions. This, however, is only seen in rare instances and is 

 the result of a chronic irritation of the tissues at that particular 

 locality. 



In the treatment of contusions, to get good results we must have 

 one object in mind — that is, the rapid reabsorption of the secretion. 

 For that purpose we use cooling compresses soaked in lead-water 

 (Goulard's extract), or arnica-water, or w^e may try to get absorp- 

 tion by means of massage — that is to say, make a centrifugal fric- 

 tion with the thumbs, fingers, or hand for fifteen or twenty minutes 

 at a time. We may also squeeze the excreted blood into the tissues 

 and lymphatic passages, and apply a tight bandage immediately 

 afterward to prevent any recurrence of subcutaneous bleeding. 

 This latter treatment is not to be practised unless the swelling is 

 very small and there is very little fluid in it. 



