Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-07-24
HOW TO TREAT WOUNDS.

Inc ADVICE OH nOW INoN
4, wounds of farm animals is given by
| Or. George M. Glover, veterinarian, OF
the Colorado Agricultural college, ana
is worthy every farmers attention.
Such advice should be kept where IL
can be referred TO when needed:
Animals on the farm arc continually
being injured by accidents that happen
in a thousand different ways. Barb
wire cuts are most frequent and a
word or two of advice as TO the proper
treatment in the hands of farmers will
not be amiss. The first thing TO gain
q correct understanding Of a sane and
effective method Of treating wounds is
to remember that nature does the heal
ing and that remedies applied are sim
ply for the purpose of assisting nature.
The right menta attitude in this re-
spect will tend to eliminate a thousand
and one nostrums which are tried in
rapid succession in the belief that there
is somewhere, if it could only be found,
a specific remedy with magical influ-
ence TO bring about the desired recov-
cry in a marvellous way. Mankind has
been diligently seeking such remedies
for thousands Of years and is still
keeping up the search.
1t is time that such a view of the
situation, which is based purely upon
superstitution, should be eliminated
anu lItL we Btl dONH ~ pi iilNipiNo
based upon scientific research, and in
stead of cropping blindly in the dark
seeking the where" let us always be
ready to inquire why"
The ordinary wound will heal OF it
self If not interfered with. This In
reference may be from germ infec-
ton. parasites OIL too much meddling
with applications on the part of man.
Now, let us suppose a case. A horse
tac n hoIIxr lonnrotnI loo from contact
with a barb wire. The first thing to do,
of course, would be to stop the bleed
ing.
This can be accomplished by a tight
bandage of clean white muslin tied
directly over the wound or above it.
Often the bleeding artery will pro-
trude m q thread can be run
under 1t with a needle and the artery
tied. Dc not use -four, dirt or cobwebs
or anything Of that sort on the wound;
they are unnecessary and may produce
dangerous infection.
Having stopped the bleeding, remove
the clots of blood and cut off the rag
ged edges of muscles with shears. A
pan of antiseptic solution should be
provided. One Of the best and cheap
est a~ntiseptics on the farm, good for
mar or beast, is creolin. Add a tea
spoonful of this to a pint of water that
1865 DNNAA DSAAIAs Il llNC NbC lilly q -
ETC., In this solution and wash the
hands before beginning.
After having cleaned out the wound
wash 1T thoroughly with the anttseptic
solution. See that there is good drain
age from the wound at the bottom.
Do not allow it to start healing with
a pocket that will hold pus.
AS il is practically impossible to keep
a wound on a horse antiseptic, it is not
advisable for the farmer to tie up the
wound; leave it exposed to the air and
apply the antiseptic wash several times
a day. Three good antiseptics are cor
rosive subllmate, which can be pur-
chased at the drug stores in tablets all
ready for use; formalin is good, as is
also a solution of boracic acid.
After about a week it is we'll to
change to dry dressing; a powder COM
posed of equal parts OF boracic acid,
charcoal n iodoform makes a very
good dry dressing. Clean air-slaked
lime, powered over the wound twice
daily. is very satisfactory. The So
called proud flesh is only unhealthy
granulation.
1t is seldom advisable for the farm
e. to interfere with this condition by
using caustics: the results are usually
disastrous; better in this case to call
in a qualified veterinarian. If mag
gots should get into the wound a little
turpentine or chloroform will help
bring them to the surface, where they
may be picked out. did not mention
sewing up the wound, for the reason
that in case of the ragged barb wire
cut 1T is very seldom worth while to
do so.
A wound 10 heal properly must be
gotten perfectly clean and free from
germs from the start and then kept
clean. Remember that It is largely a
matter Of keeping dangerous germs out
and giving nature a chance. Toe much
interference is often the cause Of tardy
healing of wounds.