44 PRINCIPLES OF VETEKINAEY SUEGEEX 



part. Suture in a way to secure perfect apposition of th( 

 ■wound surfaces ; or, if tlie amount of skin permits, Taring 

 tile edges together, evert them, and run the sutures over the 

 skin-ridge thus formed. Excessive tension upon the wound 

 edges can often be materially lessened by dissecting the skin 

 from the subcutaneous tissue all around the wound foi 

 several inches. Whenever possible, apply a dry or moisi 

 antiseptic dressing. "When no bandage is applicable, dusi 

 the wound with tannof orm or tannic acid, or when sutured 

 paint it with wound gelatin. 



Describe the treatment of a fresTi punctured wound. 



Most wounds of this sort in animals are infected. The 

 leading point in the treatment of perforating wounds is 

 drainage, if necessary, by counter openings, and. thorough 

 disinfection. Get pent-up effusions out of the way. Remove 

 foreign bodies (nails or splinters broken off in the wound). 

 Hemorrhage, as a rule, is of little importance. Should a 

 larger vessel be injured, try compression, and if that is 

 insufficient, enlarge the wound and ligate the- artery or vein. 

 In punctured wounds about the hoof the horn surrounding 

 the puncture must be pared thin and the horn immediately 

 around the opening removed ; then the nail tract is to ba 

 disinfected, followed by a warm antiseptic fomentation. ,■ 



Describe the treatment of lacerated and contused wounds. '§ 



As a rule there is but limited hemorrhage. When larger 

 vessels are injured they should be tied. To avoid secondary 

 hemorrhage all shredded tissue must be removed Here 

 primary disinfection is of vital importance, as the vitality 

 of the wound is impaired. All wound recesses must be 

 made accessible to drainage, if necessary by counter-openings. 

 ■Coaptation of the wound surfaces by suturing is, as a rule. 



