plication of lunar caustic will often be found 
highly useful in this kind of sore; and washes 
composed of white or blue vitriol in solution may 
sometimes advantageously supply the place of 
the spirituous lotions. But never, even in this 
condition of a wounded part, should the sore be 
crammed with powdered blue vitriol, verdigris, 
or similar substances, as we find sometimes re- 
commended. Ever studious to avoid extremes, 
the stimulus should be applied so that its effects 
can be wisely regulated, and stopped as soon as 
the appearance of the surface indicates that we 
have attained that due medium of action which 
shows that the wound is of itself tending to a 
cure, when we must again have recourse to sim- 
pledressings. As the indolent condition of wounds 
is one which is not commonly observed in the 
sound horse, but seems rather to be the atten- 
dant on injuries occurring to such animals as are 
of a sickly habit, as are tainted by glanders, or 
whose constitution has been enfeebled by impro- 
per food, or by any considerable evacuation, re- 
gard must be had to the state of the general 
health of every individual under treatment, and 
such remedies applied as each particular case 
may demand or admit. .In all conditions of 
wounds, we repeat, the use of bandages, modified 
as may be necessary, is advantageous, either with 
the view of serving as active agents in promoting 
the cure, or merely as coverings, excluding the 
contact of the air, which is always observed to 
cause a state of irritation and dryness in sores 
exposed to its effects, such as is extremely un- 
favourable to the establishment of a healthy sup- 
puration. In suppurating wounds, with exces- 
sive action, they should be applied loosely, as the 
parts would then suffer by constriction. Insuch 
as show deficient action, a moderate degree of 
tightness is advisable, and often of great service. 
In the healthy suppurating wound, the bandages 
should not exercise greater pressure than is suffi- 
cient to maintain them in their place. 
Punctured wounds are generally produced by 
the animal coming into contact with the prong 
of the common stable-fork, a nail, or a sharpened 
stake; but of course they may be the effect of a 
thrust with any pointed weapon. A simple punc- 
tured wound which has not injured any impor- 
tant internal organ, or penetrated any of the 
cavities of the body, is usually of easy cure. 
Much, however, depends upon the nature of the 
instrument by which the lesion has been effected. 
If it have been caused by a narrow weapon, hav- 
ing a very sharp point and polished sides, we may 
look with some confidence towards obtaining a 
speedy union by the first intention; but should 
it have been the consequence of a weapon whose 
obtuse point and ragged edges do not permit it 
to penetrate without the exercise of considerable 
violence, the cure will be likely to be more te- 
dious and more difficult, and will usually be con- 
cluded only through the medium of the suppura- 
tive process. One of the first points which ought 
WOUND. 
179 
to be ascertained, before proceeding to dress a 
punctured wound, is the precise direction of the 
injury ; and whether or not its orifice be at its 
lower or most depending part. It should a'so 
be our endeavour to discover whether any of 
the membranous fasciz, or sheaths by which the 
muscles are surrounded, have been penetrated, 
as such a lesion often gives rise to high inflam- 
matory symptoms, requiring special interference 
in the after treatment. But, whatever be its 
precise nature, we believe it will always be pru- 
dent to attempt, in the first place, a cure by the 
adhesive union. Some veterinary surgeons, of 
deserved eminence, recommend that, in every 
case of this description, especially where the in- 
jury is of considerable depth, the external open- 
ing should be enlarged, so as to give the wound 
a conical or funnel shape, thus affording free 
issue to any discharge of blood and serum, and 
preventing constriction of the parts on the oc- 
currence of the usual inflammatory swelling; the 
wound being encouraged to go on to suppuration. 
This, however, is a measure which it would per- 
haps be wiser to delay, until it may be called for 
by the actual approach of the circumstances 
which it is intended to obviate, but which may 
chance never to occur. It will be better, there- 
fore, to commence our treatment by the applica- 
tion of adhesive plaster, if there be any retraction 
of the edges of the orifice ; or, where the wound 
is close, a piece of soft lint should be secured over 
it, by asoft compress and bandage. Ifthe wound 
be severe, the animal may be bled, and a laxative 
dose administered, as precautionary measures. 
About the third day, or sooner, if the horse ap- 
pear feverish and restless, the injury should be 
examined. If every thing have proceeded fa- 
vourably, the wound will be found to have ad- 
hered, and a little further time and ordinary 
care will be all that is necessary to establish the 
cure. But, if the parts inflame, and the animal 
winces much under pressure, showing the pre- 
sence of severe pain, it will be proper to have 
recourse to warm emollient poultices, repeated 
every three or four hours, and to fomentations 
with warm water, or with a hot solution of sugar 
of lead, which should be employed each time the 
poultice is renewed. Should the wound go on 
to suppuration, it is to be expected, in cases 
where the injury has not been inflicted in a di- 
rection from below upwards, or where the orifice 
does not form the most depending part, that we 
shall have collections of matter, which in such 
cases cannot attain free egress, and which may 
extend under the membranous sheaths before 
alluded to, giving rise to the formation of trou- 
blesome sinuses. To prevent this, as soon as the 
actual presence of matter is detected, it should 
be evacuated by a free incision. The poultices 
are then to be continued till the action appears 
to confine itself steadily to the healthy standard, 
when the cure may generally be completed with 
the aid of simple dressings. 
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