Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-11-10
Barbed Wire Cuts on Horses.


This may seem a very commcsa-
place topic to discuss in journal de-
voted to horse breeding topics, but
anything that relates to the care Of
the horse as we'll as to his breeding,
should be proper material for a horse
mans journal. Certainly barbed wire
injuries are common enough to cause
us to make an effort to treat them in
the best manner possible. Perhaps
no class of injuries are as eemmolfgto
the horse as the barbed wire injul les
and at least two-t thirds of such acci-
/ dents are due to the negligence of the
horseman A loose wire, i'm the lot,
or along the the pasture fence, hitch,
ing the horse for a few minutes to 4
fence where the bottom wire is down
or when we knew the horse was apt to
fret and paw or and old wire gate left
down when we drive the horses in or
out Of the pasture or lot, all eontri-
butte to the soaring and causing per-
manent injury to our horses. just a
little bit Of time well applied will
suffice to prevent most OF these in
juries Wecan keep the fence up or,
better still, never throw them down,
and by doing these little things often
prevent serious injury to valuable
horse. However, since we are going
to have barbed wire fences and conse-
quently plenty of wire cuts we should
undertake to handle the injuries SO as
to cause the least amount of injury
and blemish.
If there is a serious cut about the
lower portion of the leg or foot, the
first thing that may need attention is
to stop the flow Of blood. Generally a
wire cut is of such a nature as to tear
the blood vessels in an irregular man
ner and to cause but little bleeding,
but occasionally large vessel is cut
and it is necessary to stop the bleed
ing. The first thing to do in an emer-
gency of this kind is to keep your wits
about you. If necessary feel into the
cut and learn where the blood is COM
ing from, whether from above or be
low the cut. If you find the vessel
try and pass cord over the enc and
tie it firmly. A soft leather strop, a
piece of rope or even suspender may
be tied around the leg either above
or below the cut as is necessary and
then place a stick under this band
and twist it as you would switch
You can increase the pressure ovel
the blood vessel by placing a piece O
wood or any hard substance under the
band and then Tightening up as be
fore. Twist this band tight and you
will succeed in stopping the bleeding
This band can not be left on the liml
any great length of time, but it viii
give you time to either secure help o
devise some means of stopping it your
self. If one tries the blood vesse
may nearly always be reached b,
means of a needle and thread. Pow
| dered alum or tincture of iron ar
| good to use in these cases. Do no
fill the cut with dry dirt, SCOT, fou
or ashes, as this is never necessary.
A wire cut in the fieshy part of th
leg or body will heal much quiclSe
than one on the foot or lower part G
the leg. The character of the tissu
has great deal to do with healing a
cut in muscle will heal much quick
err than where ligaments and tendon
are cut. Suppose that physical
should call to dress wound on tn
horse owner and should begin b
using ashes. axle grease, pine Ia
d lime or SCOT. How much of tia
It treatment do you think the ma