ACCIDENTS IN STABLE AND FIELD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1562, 8 March 1887, Page 4

ACCIDENTS IN STABLE AND FIELD.

Accidents in the stable and in the field are sufficiently common among the animals of the farm tr render it necessary for the farmer to be prepared to deal with injuries of a trifling kind not requiring any surgical operation. Wounds, bruises and sprains are tLe principal forma of injuries which are Lkely to be met with, and although the treatment which each form demands will be modified by various circumstances, there are certain general principles which must always guide the application of remedial measures.

Wounds—lt may be accepted as a fact beyond question that wounds heal naturally in a healthy state of the system, and the process cannot be accelerated, although it may easily be retarded. The unhealthy stute which wounds sometimes assume is generally due to the introduction of septic germs from without; and the first essentials of treatment are to remove all dirt and foreign matter from the injured parts, and to protect them from infection by excluding the air and everything else by-the agency of an antiseptic barrier of medicated cotton or gauze. All ointments, tinctures, lotions, or plasters may be discarded with advantage from the list of domestic applinnces for the cure of wounds, and the amateur surgeon may content himself with the simple expedient of adjusting the edges of th 6 wound ap perfectly as his skill will enable him to do ; and then applying a little carbolised cntton wool, to be kept in its place by means of a bandage of carbolised gauze. Under this method of treatment healing takes place without any inflammation, or the occurrence of discharge, unless the adjacent parts have been much damaged by the force which caused such injury. Injuries to the foot are commonly the cause of lameness, which is in many cases well marked, without the cause being apparent. As a general rule it is safe to ascribe all lameness to injury or disease of the foot until the contrary is proved. Professor Coleman is credited with the utterance of a dictum that if the cause of a horse's lameness could be shown to be centred in the animal's head it is nevertheless necessary to seek for it in the foot, and the frequent occurrence of wounds and bruises in this organ from shoeing, and also from contact with, hard substances on roads, sufficiently instifies the learned Professor's maxim.

In every case of lameness, especially when the fore-limbs are affected, the shoe should be removed, and the foot searched by paring and by pressing: with the pincers until it is quite clear from the absence of pain on pressure that no injury his been inflicted. If, as commonly happens, an abscess is detected, whether it arises from a prick by a badly-driven nail in shoeing, or from a bruise inflicted by a stone in the road, the treatment will be the same. The matter must be allowed free exit, without the unnecessary removal of the substance of the hoof, the foot should be soaked in warm water, a little tar on a piece of tow should be placed on the wound, and after the shoe lias been lightly nailed on, a s'opping of tar and tow should be applied to the bottom of the foot, and retained by means of splints. An undetected abscess in the foot is a serious affair.

The football season will be formally opened at Wellington on April 9th. Ministers have held several long Cabinet meetings last week, mostly for the consideration of the estimates. Two more oases of typhoid fever were reported at Auckland on Saturday morning. Three notices of motion od sanitary matters have been given for the next meeting of the City Council. Nbtbb Bettjkn.—lt is said that one out of every four real invalids who go to foreign countries to recover health never return, except at a oorpse. The undertakers, next to the hotel-keeper*, have the moat profitable business. This excessive mortality may be prevented and patients saved and cured under the oare of friendi and loved ones at home, if they will but use American Oo.'s Hop Bitters in time. Bead advt. The old Public Library at Auckland was closed frcm Monday last, when the removal of the books to the new premises began. The new building will be opened on the 26th March with addresses by S'r Geo. Grey, the Mayor and others, besides a musical service by the Choral Society. 1 Hoiioway'b PiLtS. Nervousness and want of Energy.—Whon firot the nerves feel unttrung, and lisllessness supplants energy, the time has come to take some suoh alterative as Holloway's Pills to restrain a dig' ordor from developing itself into a disease. These exoelient Pills correct all irregularities and weaknesses. They aot so kindly yet so energetically on the functions of digestion and asumilation, that the whole body is revived, the blood rendered rioher and purer, while the musolos become firmer and and stronger, and the nervous and absorbent systems ara invigorated. Trie Fill* are suitable for all claeseß and all ages. They have a meat marvellous effect on persons who are out of condition; they soon reotify whatever is in fault, restore strength to ths body and confidence to the mind.