CHAPTER IV. 
wounds. abscess. serous abscess. 
Wounds. 
Definition. — A wound is a solution of continuity of soft struc- 
tures, generally induced by violence from without, but at times from 
within, as is the case when a broken bone pierces the tissues. 
Causes. — In elephants, fighting is one of the chief causes of 
serious wounds. Severe falls and other accidents may similarly 
occasion them. 
Varieties of wounds. — For convenience of description, they 
have been divided into several classes. It is however only neces- 
sary to describe those most likely to be met with, namely — 
(1) Incised wounds, such as are inflicted with clean cutting 
instruments, knife {^da\ bamboo, etc. These wounds 
bleed freely from their whole surface and generally heal 
rapidly. 
(2) Punctured, in which the depth is much greater than 
its superficial extent. Example : stabs, wounds from 
spikes, bamboos and injuries by sharp tusks. These 
wounds are generally dangerous owing to the possibility 
of important organs being injured and the difficulty in 
thoroughly cleansing them. Any poison which may 
have gained entry lurks in the wound and may set up 
various serious diseases. 
(3) Lacerated wounds, in which the tissues are torn ; they 
do not bleed so freely as incised and punctured wounds, 
for the simple reason that the coats of torn vessels 
contract more readily than is the case when they are cut 
clean across. 
(4) Contused'lacerated, in which, in addition to a wound, 
there is much bruising of the surrounding parts. Such 
injuries do not heal very rapidly owing to the mechani- 
cal injury the tissues may have suffered which may be so 
severe as to lead to their death. — [Slough.) There is a 
tendency to formation of matter. Example : After a 
fight, as the defeated animal retires he is often followed 
up by his opponent who freely butts his hinder part ; 
