PUNCTURED WOUNDS. 
265 
opening at the most dependent part, so as to get drainage, and 
keeping this aperture well open until the granulations fill up 
the puncture to within one-fourth inch of the external opening 
before allowing the skin to granulate over the surface. Clean¬ 
liness is very essential. A solution of peroxide of hydrogen, 
or mild solution of carbolic acid, will cause the wound to gran¬ 
ulate more rapidly than anything we have tried, and also keeps 
the wound perfectly clean and healthy. Where we have an 
open joint or flow of synovia, we never inject anything except 
a mild solution of peroxide of hydrogen into the orifice, and if 
on the limbs, we pack with oakum and bandage just tight 
enough to hold the oakum in place; keep the oakum dampened 
with a 3 % solution of carbolic acid. 
We never try to stop the flow of synovia, but allow nature 
to fill the opening with granulations, no matter how long it 
takes—it must not be plugged up. 
We have never derived any benefit from poulticing in these 
cases, perhaps from the difficulty of retaining them in position. 
For nail pricks, by gently tapping, you can locate the spot 
where the nail entered. When located, remove shoe, also the 
nail if still in the foot, and with a hoof-knife follow down and 
cut right through the sole. I would not advise a small opening, 
in any case to start, less than an inch ; making a funnel-shaped 
opening with half inch at bottom to allow all pus and serum to 
escape. Also remove all the sole that has been undermined by, 
pus. Then inject a solution of peroxide of hydrogen, and 
follow with an injection of 5 °% carbolic acid solution; full 
strength can be used without injury. Follow this with a good 
flaxseed poultice, changing every day, for two or three days, or 
until parts start healthy granulations. In making an opening 
we keep on cutting until we get to bottom of wound, and do 
not care for haemorrhage. We never have had a case of tetanus 
where the nail prick was opened up properly, and by injecting 
hyd. peroxide we are enabled to reach all the small canals 
and drive out the pus. We have tried poultices of ice, ice 
and salt, bathing in cold and hot water properly antisepticized, 
