WOUNDS
A wound is a disruption of the soft parts of the body due to external violence. Wounds are of various kinds, as incised, lacerated, punctured, gunshot and poisonous.
Treatment.—If a wound is extensive, and bleeding is present, first arrest it, and the most satisfactory method is as follows: Tie the artery from which the blood is escaping, or twist with forceps, cauterize with hot iron, compress by bandaging tightly and apply Tincture of Chloride of Iron. This coagulates the blood, and is very effective. One important factor in treating wounds is to attend to the drainage, as decomposed matter absorbed into the blood produces blood poisoning. Dogs lick wounds and keep them clean, therefore it is hardly necessary to apply medicine.
Sewing Wounds.—I cannot recommend sewing except in cases of incised or clean-cut wounds. After clipping the hair from around the incision, and washing it thoroughly with a one in one-thousandth solution of Bichloride, stitch with cat-gut or absorbent silk suture. In case of deep, punctured or gunshot wounds, with a syringe wash out the wounds, using a one in one-thousandth Bichloride solution. For open wounds, use dusting powders, as Iodoform, Boracic Acid, etc.
To keep flies from annoying a wounded dog, apply the following prescription: Oil of Origanum, one ounce; Oil of Turpentine, one ounce; Sweet Oil, one ounce. Apply to and around the wound with a feather. This is also a good healing liniment as well as a fly repellent.