52 WOUND TREATMENT 



be neglected the discharges become putrid and a mixed 

 infection is likely to occur. 



For country practice a reliable and cheap antiseptic 

 is Huxley's Liquor Cresolis, in two-per-cent solution. 



As the discharge lessens, the dressing need not be 

 changed sooner than the third day, and later on a dry 

 antiseptic dressing, such as boric acid with zinc oxid, 

 may take the place of the inoist one. 



In punctured wounds, after draina.ge has been pro- 

 vided for I find it is a good plan to plug the wound 

 with gauze soaked in peroxid of hydrogen. This dress- 

 ing may be renewed as often as circumstances require. 



In country practice it is useless to expect the owner 

 or attendant to apply dressings properly. Therefore, 

 unless there are reasons. to the contrary, wounds do best 

 when left open, being simply cleansed with an antiseptic 

 solution and painted with compound tincture of benzoin. 

 This latter agent fell into disuse for a time, but in my 

 experience it is a most useful wound dressing for coun- 

 try cases, where as little handling of the wound as pos- 

 sible is an important matter. 



Carbolized oil, which at one time was so popular a 

 dressing, is now known to be absolutely inert as a 

 germicide. 



In hunters, deep puncture wounds of the front of 

 the hind fetlock due to sharp stones are of frequent 

 occurrence. The bursa of the tendon may, or may not, 

 be opened, but acute inflammation rapidly develops and 

 marked pain is present. Attempts to heal such wounds 

 quickly do not prove successful, as infection is deeply 

 situated; in my experience the best dressing is one of 

 the modern substitutes for poultices, which kre com- 

 posed of kaolin, glycerin, and antiseptic agents, applied 

 hot and changed daily. "When acute symptoms have 

 subsided, the ordinary dressings may be applied. , 



