THE HEALING OF WOUNDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9668, 16 December 1909, Page 7

THE HEALING OF WOUNDS.

(By G. H. Glover, D.V.M.) Animals on the farm are continually being injured by accidents that happen in a thousand different ways. .Barbed wire cuts are most frequent, and a word or two of advice as to the proper treatment in the hands of farmers will not be amiss. The first thing to gain a correct understanding of a safe and effective method of treating wounds i» to remember that iNature does the healing, and that remedies applied are simply for the purpose of assisting Nature. The right mental attitude in this respect will tend to eliminate a thousand-and-one nostrums which are tried in rapid succession in the belief that there is somewhere, if it could bs found, a specific remedy with magical influence to bring about the desired recovery in a marvellous way. Mankind has been diligently seekingi auch remedies for thouasnds of years, * and is still Keeping up the search. It is time that such a view of the situation, which is based purely upon superstition, should be eliminated, and that we get down to principles based upon scientific research, and instead or groping blindly in the dark, seeking the "where," let us always be ready to enquire "Why?" The ordinary wound will heal of itsalf if not interfered with. This interference may be from germ infection, para-' sites, of too much meddling with various applications on the part of man. Now, let us suppose a case. A horse has a badly lacerated leg from contact with a barb-wire. The first thing to do, of course would be to atop the bleeding. This can be accomplished by a tight bandage of clean white muslin, tied directly over the wound or above it. Often the bleeding artery will protrude, and a thread can be run under it with a needle and the artery tied.

Do not use flour, dirt, or cobwebs, or anything of that sort on the wound; they are unnecessary, and may produce a dangerous infection. Having stopped the bleeding, remove the clots of blood and cut off the ragged edges of muscles with i shears. A pan of antiseptic Holution should be provided. One of the best j and cheapest antiseptics o:i th e j farm, good for man or beast, is creolin. Add a teaspoonful of this to a pint of water that has been I boiled. Place the knife, shears, etc., t in this solution, and wash the hands i before beginning. After having j cleansed out the wound, wash it thoroughly with-the antiseptic solution. See that thire is good drainage from the wound at the bottom. Do not allow it to start healing with ( a pocket that will hold pus. As it is , practically impossible to keep a ] wound oh a horse antiseptic it is not advisable for the farmer to tie up the wound; leave it exposed to the air I and apply the antiseptic, wash several times a day. Three good antiseptics are:—corrosive sublimate, which can be purchased at the drag stores in tablets all raaiy for use; formalin is good; as is als.) a solution of boracic acid. After about a week, it is well to change dry dressing; a powder composed of equal parts of boiacie acid and charcoal and iodoform makes

a very good dry dressing. Clean, I air-slaked lime, powdered over the ' wound twice daily, is very satisfactory. The so-called "projd flesh" j is only unhealthy granulation. It is j seldom advisable for the farmer to \ interfere with this condition by using j caustics; the results are usually 1 disastrous; better in t.hia case to call j a qualified veterinarian. If maqgots j should get into the wound, a little J turpentine or chloroform will help | bring them to the surface, when j they may be picked out. I did not , mention sewing up the wound, for | the reason that in case of the ragged . barbw-ire cut it is very seldom worth | while to do so. A wound, to heal properly, must be got perfectly clean and free rom germs from the start, and then kept clean. Remember that it is largely a matter of keeping dangerous germs out and giving Nature a chance. Too much interference is often the cause of tardy healing of wounds. —New South Wales Agricultural Gazette.