The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-27
WOUNDS IN ANIMALS.
How They May BE Repaired-The Two
Methods in Use.

/
OF these, and the more favorable of the
two, is the method termed by surgeons
healing by the first intention. Under
favorable circumstances this takes place
| in an incised wound when the cut sur
faces are brought carefully together and
maintained in close contact after bleed
| ing has ceased. The two surfaces then
become cemented together by the form
alton of thin intermediate layer of new
tissue. The other principal mode of
repair is healing by the second inten-
ton. That is what takes place in large
inciSed wounds when the cut surfaces
can not be brought and maintained in
opposition, and it is the invariable
method of repair in punctured and lac
Grated wounds. Here the gap in the
texture becomes filled up by the growth
of new material taking place from the
bottom of the wound, while a new skin
grows inwards from the edge of the
wound. This skin, however, is not ex-
actly similar to the natural healthy skin
from which it extends, being thinner,
more delicate, and without any hair
A third and much rarer process
OF healing in wounds is what is
termed immediate union. In this,
it is said, the divided surfaces being
brought into accurate contact unite
without the intermediate growth of any
new texture. 1t is questionable if such
is really the case, but it is certain that
sometimes in small wounds the cut
surfaces when placed together unite so
speedily and exactly that no scar is left.
In an incised wound treatment in the
first instance should be directed toward
favoring union by the first intention.
The essentials for this area sound
constitution on the part of the animal,
accurate and close contact with the
divided surface, and the absence of in
tlammation in the wound. Without
mans interference this process would
seldom or never enSue in the lower ami
mails, for in all wounds except the
| smallest the cut surfaces cape apart
unless some means be adopted to keep
them together. The means commonly
adopted by surgeons for this purpose
are the application of strips of plaster
across the surface of the wound. or the
passing OF sutures through its edge. In
adopting the former plan, few strips,
according to the length of the wound.
should be applied at intervals; but the
| entire surface should never be entirely
covered by the plaster. The surfaces,
moreover, should not be brought to-
gether until bleeding has been arrested,
for should a clot of blood be effused into
the wound it would prevent healing
by this method. Sutures are simply
stitches used to tie or sew the edges or
surface Of a wound together. They are
used OF various materials, such as thread,
horse-hair, cat-gut and wire Nothing
further need be said about the applica-
ton of these, since their insertion into
a wound should always be left to
veterinary surgeon. In a punctured or
confused or lacerated wound, where
the surface can not be maintained to-
gether, or where Inflammation ensues
in such wound, then the treatment
must be that favorable to healing by
the second intention. Inflammation.
shown by redness, swelling and great
tenderness of the edges of the wound,
should be combatted by assiduous bath
ing with hot water. In confused and
lacerated wound, such as broken
knees" particles of sand and other
foreign matter must be carefully and
lightly sponged from the surface; in
punctured wounds, or stabs, it must be
made certain that nothing remains in
the bottom of the wound; and in all
classes of wounds healing in this way
provision must be made to allow the
discharge from the wound ready es-
cape.
With the last object it is often neces-
sary in a punctured wound, to enlarge
the opening, or to make what is called
''counter-opening" that is, one run
ming from the surface upward to the
deepest part of the wound. The neceS-.
sity for free escape from puncturcd
wound is seen in the case of ''pricks'
of the feet. These are generally simple
in their effects if the track of the nail
be carefully followed and enlarged; but
if not, the nail-hoSe is apt to become
obstructed and prove insufficient for
| the escape of the discharge from the
wound. In that case the discharge ac-
cumulates within the hoof, and grad
ally forces its way toward the surface,
in the direction of least resistance, and
hence ceases to burst out at the top of
the hOof. In all wounds union is pro-
NOTED by putting the part at rest. In
the case of such large animals as the
horse this is always extremely difficult,
and sometimes it may be necessary to
put the animal in sings.
Healthy wounds are seldom much
benefited by the application of lotions
or Ointments. When the wound is of
small size it is best to leave it uncovered;
and if it be in summer it may be smeared
with zinc ointment, or with forty parts
of olive oil to one of carbolic acid. In
large wounds the surface should be
lightly covered with cloth kept wet
with a solution of carbolic acid in forty
parts of water When a wound shows
what is called proud flesh" it should
be rubbed over at its most prominent
part with sulphate of copper (bluestone),
or washed with a solution containing
two ounces of sugar to pint bottle of
water. -ERgijSh Veterinary Surgeon, in
Chicago Times.