The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1911-09-30
The Healing or Wounds

Animals on the farm are continual
ly being injured by accidents that
happen in "a thousand different ways.
Barbed wire cuts are most frequent,
and word or two Of advice as to the
proper treatment in the hands Of far
mers will not be amiss.
The first thing to gain correct un-
Outstanding OF II sane and effective
method of treating wounds Ia to re-
member that nature does the healing
and that remedies applied are simply
for the purpose Of assisting nature.
The right mental attitude in this
respect will tend to eliminate thOus-
and nostrums which are tried In
rapid succession In the belief that
there is somewhere, If 1t could only
be found, specific remedy with
magical influence to bring about the
desired recovery in 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 view Of the situa-
ton, which is based purely upon su-
perstition, should be eliminated and
that we get down to principles based
upon scientific research, and instead
of cropping blindly in the dark seek
ing the where" let us be ready to
inquire the why"
The ordinary wound will heal Of it.
sell if not interfered with. This in
reference may be from germ infec-
ton, parasites, or too much meddling
with various applications on the part
of man.
Now, let us suppose case. a horse
has II badly lacerated leg from con-
tact with barbed wire. The first
to do, of course, would be to stop the
bleeding. This can be accomplished
by tight bandage OF clean, white
muslin, tied directly over the wound
or above it. Often the bleeding ar
terry will protrude, and a thread can
be run under it with needle and the
artery tied. Do not use flour, dirt or
cobwebs, or anything of that sort, OIL
the wound they are unnecessary and
may produce n dangerous infection.
Having stopped the bleeding, re-
move the clots of blood and cut of
the ragged edges of the muscles with
shears. A pan of antiseptic solution
should be provided. One Of the best
and cheapest antiseptics on the farm,
good for man or beast, is creolin. Add
IA teaspoonful of this to pint Of
water which has been boiled. Place
the knife, shears, etc, in this sOlu-
ton, and wash the hands before be-
ginning. After having cleansed out
the wound, wash 1t thoroughly with
the antiseptic solution. See that
there is good drainage from the
wound at the bottom. Do not allow
it to start healing with a pocket that
will hold pus. AS it is practically
impossible to keep wound on
horse antiseptic, 1t is not advisable
to tie up a wound. Leave it exposed
to the air and apply the antiseptic
several times Il day. Three more
good antiseptics are corrosive subli-
mate, which can be purchased at the
drug stores in tablets ready for use;
fornualn 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 composed of equal parts Of
boracic acid and charcoal and iOdO-
form makes very good dry dress
ing. Clean. air slaked lime powder
ed over the wound twice daily, Is
very satisfactory. The so-called
..proud flesh" is only unhealthy gram
ulation. 1t is some times advisable
for the farmer to interfere with this
condition by using caustics; the re-
suits are usually disastrous; better in
this case to call in a veterinarian. II
maggots should get into the wound, a
little turpentine or cbloroform will
help bring them out on to the sur
faces, 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, to heal properly, must
be gotten perfectly clean and free
from germs from the start and then
kept clean. Remember that 1t 10
largely n matter Of keeping danger
Gus germs out and giving nature .
chance. Too much interference 10
often the cause Of tardy healing Of
wounds.
Geo. II. Clover, d. v. M,
Veterinarian, Colorado Agricultural
College, Fort Collins.