384 DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 



By surgical interference the tumor is now converted into an open 

 sore or ulcer, which, after it has been well cleaned by warm baths 

 and poultices applied for two or three days, needs to be protected by 

 proper dressings. The best of all protective dressings is made of 

 small balls, or pledgets, of oakum, carefully packed into the wound 

 and held in place by a roller bandage 4 yards long, from 3 to 4 inches 

 wide, made of common bedticking and skillfully applied. 



The remedies which may be used to stimulate the healing process 

 are many, and, as a rule, they are applied in the form of solutions or 

 tinctures. 



In my own practice I prefer a solution of bichloride of mercury 1 

 part, water 500 parts, with a few drops of muriatic acid or a few 

 grains of muriate of ammonia added to cause the mercury to dissolve. 

 The balls of oakum are wet with this solution before they are applied 

 to the wound. 



Among the other remedies which may be used, and perhaps with 

 equally as good results, will be noted the sulphate of copper, iron, and 

 zinc, 5 grains of either to the ounce of water ; chloride of zinc, 5 grains 

 to the ounce; carbolic acid, 20 drops dissolved in an equal amount of 

 glycerin and added to 1 ounce of water ; nitrate of silver, 10 grains to 

 the ounce of water ; and creolin, pure or diluted. 



If the wound is slow to heal, it will be found of advantage to change 

 the remedies every few days. 



If the wound is pale in color, the granulations transparent and 

 glistening, the tincture of aloes, tincture of gentian, or the spirits of 

 camphor may do best. 



When the sore is red in color and healing rapidly, an ointment 

 made of 1 part of carbolic acid to 40 parts of cosmoline or vaseline is 

 all that is needed. 



If the granulations continue to grow until a tumor is formed which 

 projects beyond the surrounding skin, it should be cut off with a 

 sharp, clean knife, and the foot poulticed for twenty-four hours, 

 after which the wound is to be well cauterized daily with lunar 

 caustic and the bandages applied with great firmness. 



The question as to how often the dressings should be renewed must 

 be determined by the condition of the wound, etc. If the sore is sup- 

 purating freely it will be necessary to renew the dressing every 

 twenty-four or forty-eight hours ; if the discharge is small in quan- 

 tity and the patient comfortable, the dressing may be left on for 

 several days ; in fact, the less often the wound is disturbed the better, 

 in so long as the healing process is healthy. When the sore com- 

 mences to skin over, the edges should be lightly touched with lunar 

 caustic at each dressing. The patient may now be given a little 

 exercise daily ; but the bandages must be kept on until the wound is 

 entirely healed. 



