WOUNDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 53, 8 April 1914, Page 11

WOUNDS.

AND HOW TO TREAT THEM.

Accidents are constantly occurring among live stock, and the impossibility of getting veterinary assistance forces a farmer to be his own surgeon. Wounds are of four kinds: clean-cut, torn, bruised, and punctured. A cleancut wound, lengthwise of the muscle, is the easiest to manaige. First, we see how deep it is and that there is no foreign substance in it, then, stop the bleeding by applying hot or cold water. If a, large artery has been cut, tie it. Put a teaspoonful of carbolic acid into a quart of water and let a little run over the cut surface. If the wound is not deep, the edges of it can be drawn together, by either silk thread or catgut steeped in the above solution. If, however, the wound is across the muscle, or ah inch or more in depth, dp not stitch, because the cut ends will move below the stitches. Torn wounds should have the bleeding stopped as above-mentioned 'and then cleaned by letting .water run over them. Do not try to sew them up. If the wound assumes an unhealthy appearance, use acetate of lead, sulphate of zinc, |oz; carbolic acid, one drachm, and water, one quart. Clean wound with water and apply this lotion twice a day. Punctured wounds are the worst of kll, because they are liable to have foreign substances, such as hair ami pieces of wood Avithin, causing inflammation, mortification, and death. Probe the part to find the depth and direction of the wound, see if there is any forengn substance in it and remove it. Clean it as woll as possiblo, then dip a piece of soft muslin in a solution of carbolic acid, three drachms; water, 4oz; press this to the bottom of the wound, let it remain a few hours, draw it out and put in a fresh one, and do this three times a day. When it begins to matter the danger is passed. Clean it out twice a day and inject a little of the carbolic acid lotion used for cut % wounds. Bruised wounds, if bathed with acetate of lead, ioz; water, 1 quart; several times a day, will not inflame. Sometimes matter will collect and the parts swell up and be soft and puffy. In this case open it and inject a little of the following twice a . day: zinc chloride, 2 drachms; water, 1 quart. If it leaves a thickening rub with the following every second week:—Biniodide of mercury, 1 drachm; lard, Hoz. For old, unhealthy sores, such as are made by constant rubbing and will not lieal, remove the cause and apply a little terchloride of antimony with n feather. In-three days a scab Avill come off, and if it looks soft, and spongy, apply a little more of the antimonv every three days until the part becomes healthy. Then use zinc oxide, loz; lard, 2oz; rubbing on a little once daily. When the bruises are below the knee, in Avhat is called the loav order of tissue, more care will be required. Usually a low form of inflammation sets in, a yellowish discharge begins, and the surrounding parts sAvell and become hard, the centre of the avouiul fills up, causing a bad blemish. The first thing to do in ease of a barbed-wire cut on these parts is to put the animal where, it can be kept quiet. Bathe the leg every half-hour for the first 24 hours with a lotion made of acetate of lead, 4oz; sulphate of zins ioz; tincture of arnica, 2oz; Avater, 1 quart. After the first 24 hours bathe it three times a day. If it fills up higher than the skin apply a little bichloride of mercury Avith a ; smooth piece of stick, but do not use more at a time than Avill lie on a dime, as there is danger of the poison being absorbed.

If the animal is fevered or its legs swell from standing, give the adult horse half an ounce of nitrate of potassium three times a day in drinking water or a bran mash for a few days, and give half this quantity to a yearling. If in an unthrifty condition give the following:—Sulphate of iron, 4oz; mix vomica, 2oz; mix and divide into 24 doses, one to be given twice a day in a mash, half the quantity for a yearling. —*' Farm Crops.''