Lacerated wounds are those in which the fibres, instead of being divided by a cutting instrument, have been torn asunder by some violence capable of overcoming their force of cohesion. The edges of such wounds, instead of being straight and regular, are jagged or unequal.

The term contused is applied to wounds occasioned by some blunt instrument or surface which has violently struck a part of the body.

These two species of wounds greatly resemble one another, and as they require nearly the same kind of treatment it is better to class them together.

Lacerated and contused wounds differ from simple incised ones in appearing at first view less alarming than the latter, while in reality they are infinitely more dangerous. In simple cut wounds the retraction of the parts and the hemorrhage are generally much more considerable than in a lacerated wound of the same size. However, notwithstanding these facts they commonly admit of being healed with far greater ease. It is worthy of particular notice that lacerated and contused wounds are not in general attended with any serious effusion of blood, even though large bloodvessels be injured.

In contused and lacerated wounds the pain is in an inverse ratio to the cause of the accident; it is generally very severe when the wound is only moderately contused, and on the other hand, when there has been so violent a degree of contusion as at once to destroy the organization of the part, the animal suffers scarcely any pain at all.

When the bruised fibres have not been injured above a certain extent the part suppurates, but such portions of the wound as have suffered greater violence inevitably die and are cast off in the form of sloughs. Granulations are afterwards formed, and the breach of continuity is repaired.

When a still greater amount of violence has been inflicted, and especially where arteries of a certain magnitude have been at the same time injured, mortification is too frequently the result. However, if the constitution be good and the mischief not too extensive, the case may still end well.

But in other instances the event is a just cause of apprehension, for the mischief is then not limited to the wounded parts which have suffered the greatest extent of contusion, hut too often extends over such parts as were not at all interested by the wound itself. Now, the mortification arising directly from the impaired organisation of parts is not the most alarming circumstance. A still more dangerous kind of mortification is that which originates from the violent inflammation produced by the accident. This effect demands the utmost attention, and we must allow no useful means to be neglected, with the view of diminishing the inflammation before it has attained too high a degree, and threatening symptoms have commenced. In the first instance we should not be afraid of allowing the wound to bleed a little if it should be disposed to do so. The edges of the wound should be gently drawn towards each other, and retained in this position by a few strips of plaster, so as to lessen the extent of the exposed surface. Some authorities object to this mode, but I have ever found good reason to recommend its adoption.

Now, under the most favourable circumstances, hardly any part of such a wound as the one we are describing can be expected to unite by the first intention, because the whole, or the greater part of it, will necessarily suppurate after the detachment of the sloughs. The surface will then granulate, new skin will be formed, and the part heal, just like a common wound. So, perhaps, until the sloughs separate, the best application is a soft, nice poultice, or the cold water remedy may be adopted.