A wound is a separation of continuous parts by violence. It is of practi. cal importance to consider four varieties: - incised, punctured, lacerated, contused.

The incised wounds, made by clean-cutting instruments, are usually produced with the least violence, and generally the most easily repaired. The punctured, those made by instruments of greater length than breadth, including stabs etc., are dangerous from their depth, and from the possibility of hemorrhage and injury to the internal organs; abscesses are liable to follow deep wounds. In the lacerated, the parts are torn, and the contused are effected by bruising; these wounds are commonly produced by greater violence, heal more slowly and invite the formation of pus; they generally bleed less than the incised or punctured, because arteries when torn, contract and close more than when cut.

Treatment

The indications in the treatment of wounds are to check bleeding; remove foreign bodies; bring the divided parts together, and secure them in a natural position; to promote healing. Pressure and the application of cold will generally suffice to control hemorrhage, unless an artery of considerable size is wounded, in which case if it persists in bleeding, a surgeon should be called to ligate.

Foreign bodies can be removed by the fingers or forceps, and dirt, gravel, etc. washed away. If the wound gaps open the edges should be brought together and held by sutures, for which silk is preferred.

When a dog has been wounded and stitching is necessary, one must not shrink from the duty through fear of violence; rarely will any be encountered, for the noble brutes possessed of a human intelligence are conscious that a kind hand inflicts the pain to repair their injury, and they undergc the operation with a fortitude which excites wonder and admiration. In all extensive wounds stitches should be introduced with an interval of a half an inch between them, entering the skin well back from the edges to prevent their tearing out. Alter the operation several thicknesses of antiseptic gauze, if that can he obtained, should he hound over the injured parts, and left undisturbed for three or four days, at the end of which time the stitches can be removed and the wound again dressed as before. When the antiseptic gauze is unattainable, a compress of linen should be applied and kept damp with a solution of carbolic acid, two drachms to a pint of water.

In the treatment of extensive and deep punctured wounds as in stabs, it is to be remembered that the cut in the skin is liable to unite, and thus by confining the discharge give rise to deep-seated abscesses. To prevent this a small drainage tube can be introduced, and left in the wound for two or three days and then removed permanently, or after being cleaned and disinfected be again returned, and shortened from time to time as the healing from the bottom progresses. A dressing of the antiseptic gauze should be kept lightly and constantly applied. When the proper tubing cannot be secured, a cord made of several strands of ligature silk can be substituted. In smaller punctured wounds it is wise to bandage them with some degree of firmness, and keep the parts at rest as much as possible; then if pain, heat, and swelling follow, an abscess has resulted; an incision should be made and poultices applied.

Lacerated wounds are to be dressed antiseptically, and treated much the same as incised wounds after being stitched. Those from bites should be first freely cauterized.

Contused wounds if superficial and deserving of treatment, generally do well under cold applications. When the deeper tissues are severely injured and the vitality of a portion is destroyed and must separate from the healthy flesh, poultices should be applied to hasten the sloughing process and be persisted in until the wound is clean and healthy, after which it can be treated as an ulcer, the oxide of zinc ointment being appropriate Old, indolent, suppurating wounds which heal slowly need stimulating occasionally; for which purpose caustic can be used, not extensively but simply touched here and there over the entire sore.

When deep wounds or abscesses have not been thoroughly healed from the bottom through a defect in bandaging, or in providing proper outlets for the discharge, a fistula results. This is a narrow canal opening on the surface and leading to the suppurating cavity.

The treatment is to enlarge the opening; keep it open and syringe out the cavity with a strong solution of the nitrate of silver, grains thirty to water an ounce. An inflammation called cellulitis, resembling much erysipelas, is easily excited in wounds in dogs. Where it occurs pus forms very quickly, and tends to burrow rather than seek the surface and open.