Extract from "Animal Management."

General treatment of Wounds

Absolute cleanliness. Small scratches should merely be washed clean and dressed with healing antiseptics and left to the open air. Antiseptics, such as boracic acid, sulphate of zinc, solution of Jeyes Fluid (1 - 10), should be kept handy. Carbolic acid must be frequently applied as it evaporates rapidly.

In more serious cases, after washing clean it may be necessary to stop bleeding by pressure above and below the wound (if it is a deep cut) or a simple pad and bandage. Wounds from wire must be allowed to drain out the poison before healing. Boracic lint fomentations should be applied to draw out the poison. All discharges indicate an unhealthy condition of a wound.

Thorns

After hunting or schooling over natural fences, the legs should be carefully examined for thorns. The thorns must be extracted immediately before any swelling appears. Bath with warm water, cover with clean wool and a bandage. An obstinate thorn that has not been extracted may be drawn by an application of "antiphlo gestine" kept on for forty-eight hours, according to the directions.

Open Joint Wounds

When a wound is dressed it should be covered with a bit of antiseptic lint and bandaged. Wounds near joints should be touched as little as possible with the hands, nor should they be poulticed or fomented. Where there is an open joint (i.e. condition where there is escaping joint oil), which is serious, the wound should have a constant stream of cold running water over it till relieved.

Overreach Wounds

In the case of an overreach, the wound is caused by a downward blow, possibly even cutting the back tendon. There is, consequently, an underlip of skin hanging down, and when bandaging care should be taken that the lip is kept in correct position, when it will heal. If the lip is merely held on by a small tissue of skin it should be cut off at the outset. The overreach should be treated with antiseptics and bandaged from below upwards to keep the edges of the cut in position, as described above. Pads of tow should be placed under the bandage to prevent undue pressure on the injured part.