Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-12-29
WOUNDS OF HORSES.
LaCerated and Confused Hurts,
Bruises, Harness Calls.
MAY Be DESCRIBED TOGETHER
Many Animals Die From Septic Infee-
tlon or Modification as Result Of
These Inlurles-Abscesses
May Result
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture.)


Lacerated and confused wounds Of
horses may be described together, al
though there is, of course, this differ
ence, that In confused wounds there is
no break or liberation of the skin.
Lacerated wounds, however, are, as a
rule, also cOntused-the surrounding
tissues are bruised to a greater or
lesser extent. While at first sight such
wounds may not appear to be as seri-
Gus as incised wounds, they r COM
monty very much more so. Lacera-
tons and Commissions, when extensive,
are always to be regarded as danger
Gus. Eany horses die from septic in
fect.On or modification as a result
Of Aese Injuries. In severe Commissions
tlere is an INF. 'rEtion of blood into
tie surrounding tissues; disorganiza-
ton and modification follow, and in
vOlve often the deeper-seated struc-
lures. Assesses, single or multiple,
may also result and call for special
treatment.
In wounds that are lacerated the
amount of hemOrrhage generally is in
considerable; even very large blood
vessels may be torn apart without
causing u fatal result. The edges Of
the wound are ragged and uneven.
These wounds are produced by barbed
wire or some blunt object, as when a
horse runs against fences, board piles,
the corners of buildings, or when he is
struck by the pole or shafts of another
team, falling on rough, irregular
stones, etc.
Confused wounds are caused by
blunt instruments moving with sufi-
cient velocity to bruise and crush the
tissues, as kicks, running against OBJ
tects, Or falling on large, hard masses.
Treatment.
In lacerated wounds great care must
at first be exercised in examining or
probing to the very bottom Of the rent
or tear, to see whether any foreign
body is present. Very often splinters
, Of wood or bits of stone or dirt are
l present, and unless removed prevent
J the wound from healing; or If it
, should heal, the wound soon opens
again, discharging a thin, gluey mat
= ter that is characteristic of the pres
: ence of tome object in the part. After
A thorough exploration these wounds
should be fOmented carefully and pa
: tiently with warm water, to which has
been added carbolic acid in the proper
1 ton Of 1 part to 100 of water. Rare
S ly, If ever, insert stitches In la%cerated
s wounds. The surrounding tissues and
r skin are so weakened in vitality and
structure by the Commissions that
stitches will not hold; they only irri
h tate the parts. 1t is better to endeavOI
e to join the edges Of the wound by
t means Of bandages, plasters, or col
lOdiOn. One essential in the treatment
e Of lacerated wounds Is to provide O
a tree exit for the pus. If the Orifce OF
y the wound is too high, or If pus Is
d found to be burrowing In the tissues
beneath the opening, make a counter
s opening as low as possible. This will
admit of the wound being thoroughly
washed out, at first with warm water
n and afterwards injected with sOm'
e mild a%stringent and antiseptic wash
n as chloride Of zinc, one dram to a pin
e Of water. A dependent opening mus
be maintained until the wound cease
to discharge. Repeated hot fomenta
It lions over the region Of l~aceratet
It wounds afford much relief and shou.t
O be persisted in.
Bruises.
Bruises are nothing but confuse,
= wounds where the skin has not bee
ruptured. There is often considerabl
solution of continuity Of the parts III
der the skin, su%bcutaneOus hemorrhag'
etc, which may result in mOrtihcatio
and slough Of the bruised parts.
- the bruise or confusion is not so 81
4 we're, many cases are cured quickly b
constant fermentation with hot waite
for from two to four hours. The W,
ter should be allowed about this tim
Il to become cool gradually and the
cold. Cold fermentation must then b
kept up for another hour or two. TIL
parts should be dried thoroughly an
quickly and bathed freely with can
phor one ounce, sweet oil eight ounce
or with equal parts OF lead water an
laudanum. A dry, light bandai
should then be applied, the horse a
lowed to rest, and If necessary Il
3: treatment may be repeated each dG
Il for two or three days. If, howeve
. the wound is so severe that slOughiI
must ensue, 1t SHOULD be encourage
by poultices made of linseed met
wheat bran, turnips, onions, bread al
milk, or hops. Sprinkle charcoal Ov
the surface Of the poultice when Il
wound is bad smelling. After Il
slough has fallen of dress the woul
with warm antiseptc washes Of CO
bOllc acid, chloride Of zinc, permani
nate Of potash, etc. If granulati
(hlnng up) too fast, use burnt alu
or ait-slaked lime. Besides this loo
- treatment, the constitutional SYN
toms of fever and Inflammation C
for measures to prevent or cont
them. This IA best done by DIacl