INJURIES TO THE MUSCLES AND FASCUE OF THE QUARTER. 657 
the walls of the haematoma immediately become united. Needless to 
say, careful disinfection is of the greatest consequence. 
(c) Wounds confined to the skin of the buttock often heal by primary 
intention if immediately sutured with antiseptic precautions, and dressed 
with a disinfectant like iodoform-tannin. Union is assisted by covering 
the wound with a clean cloth, which is kept moistened with a disinfectant. 
Rest is absolutely necessary. 
Muscular wounds in this position heal most rapidly under a scab. If, 
as is not infrequently the case, the entire wound-surface is open to the 
air, this will be found the best procedure. The wound is carefully 
cleansed, rinsed with a disinfectant, any loose fragment is removed, and, 
after bleeding vessels have been ligatured, the parts are powdered with 
iodoform-tannin. As a rule, this produces a dry scab, which is firmly 
adherent to the wound; nothing further is required. If the scab 
separates at certain points, it should be removed, the discharge wiped 
away with a little wadding, and the dressing renewed. Sometimes only 
the upper part of the wound heals under a scab; but though the lower 
portion is wet with discharge, granulation and healing are only delayed, 
not prevented. When the surfaces of the wound are in contact, or when 
pockets or deep injuries exist, it is difficult to maintain asepsis, and 
suppuration almost always occurs; in such cases, drainage must be 
assisted and burrowing of pus checked by a free use of the knife, by 
making counter-openings, and possibly by inserting setons and drains, 
the wound being meanwhile frequently cleansed. 
Even when healing by first intention seems out of the question, 
recovery may be shortened by inserting stitches, particularly if the skin 
be separated from subjacent structures to any great extent. By bringing 
the flaps of skin together with thick threads, or, better still, with tape, 
which is not likely to cut, retraction of the cicatricial tissue in the edges 
of the wound is checked, and in large wounds healing is assisted. 
Sinuses extending to the tuber ischii must be laid open, and if possible 
the necrotic piece of bone removed. 
II.—FRACTURE OF THE FEMUR. 
In spite of its protected position, the femur is not infrequently 
fractured in the different species of animals—in the smaller kinds, like 
dogs, by treads, in horses by kicks, and in oxen by falls. Horses 
fracture the bone by struggling violently when cast, especially if the 
foot be fixed too high (that is, if the hoof be drawn up over the elbow- 
joint), and over-extended whilst in this position. Gurlt thinks that 
tying the hind limb to the cannon hone of the fore limb may cause 
fracture of the femur; but though German operators often fix horses in 
u u 
v.s. 
