THE HEALING OF WOUNDS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13741, 24 May 1910, Page 5

THE HEALING OF WOUNDS.

■ .■____-, - . . - | Mr Geo- H. Glover. D.V.M., contributes an illuminating article *-»*«£ r the above heading to, the >*-•« • "A_ricultural Gazette.'" He says:--""Animals on the farm are continually being injured by accidents that happen in a thousand different wajs. Barb win; cuts arc most trequent. and a word or two of advice as to the proper treatment in the hands ot tanners will not lie amiss. The first thing to gain a correct understanding ot a sane and effective method of treating wounds is to remember that Nature does the healing, and that remedies applied are simply lor the purpose ol assisting Nature The right .mental attitude in this respect will tend to eliminate a thousand and ono nostrums which are tried in rapid succession in the belief that there is somewhere, it , it could only be found, a sponiie roriicdv with magical influence to bring about the desired recovery in a marvelloiir. way. Mankind has been diligently seeking such remedies, ior thousands ol years, and is still keeping up the search. It is time that such a view of tli- situation, which is based purely upon superstition, should be eliminated, and that we get down to principles wised upon scientific research, and instead of groping blindly in the dark seeking the 'where,' let us always be ready to enquire 'why?' The ordinary wound will heal of itself if not interfered with. This interference may w ( from germ infection, parasites, or too much meddling with various applications on the part of man. Now. let us suppose a case: A -horse has a badly lacerated leg from contact with barbed wire. The. first.thing to do, of course, would be to stop the bleeding. This can bo accomplished by n tight bandage of clean, white muslin, tied directly over the wound or above it. Often the bl.?eding artery will protrude, and a thread can be run under it with a needle and the artery tied. Do not ie.se flour, dirt, or cobwebs, or anything of that sort on the wound; they are unnecessary and may produce a dangerous infection. Having stopped the bleeding, remove the clots of blood and cut off the* ragged edges of muscles with shears. A pan of antiseptic solution should be provided. One of the best and cheapest antiseptics on the farm, good fqr man or beast, is creoliii. Add a' teaspoouful of this to a pint of water that has been boiled. Place the 1-nifo, shears, etc.. in this solution, and wash the hands before beginning. After having cleaned out the wound, wash it thoroughly with the antiseptic solution. .See' that thero is • good drainage, from tho wound at the bot- . toin. Do not allow it to start healing- ivith a pocket that holds pus. As j it is pra.ti.ally' impossible to keep a wound on a horse antiseptic, it is not i udvisalil- lor the farmer to tie up • tlic wound. Leave it. exposed to the -| air and apply the antiseptic wash I several times a day. - Three good antiseptics arc corrosive sublimate, which can be purchased at the drug stores in tablets all ready for use; formalin is good, as is also a solution of borncie acid. After about a week, it is well to change to dry dressing; a powder composed of equal parts of borncie acid and .charcoal ami iodoform niako a very good dry dressing. Clean, air-slaked lime, _y>\vderc-d over the wound twica daily is very satisfactory. The so-called *'proud ilesh" is only unhealthy, granulation. It is seldom advisable for the fanner to interfere with this condition by using caustics; the results aro usually elisastrous: better in this case- to call in a quali- * lied veterinarian. if maggots should get into tho wound, a little turpentine or chloroform will help bring theni to the surface, where they may be picked out. I did not mention sewing up the wound, for the reason that in the case of tho ragged barb wire cut it 's 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 it is largely a matter of keeping dangerous germs, . 'out and' giving nature a chance. Too much interference is often tho cause of tardy,healiug of wounds.