air, dirt, or splinters of wood are present; as infected when
contaminated with germs, and as aseptic if the wound does not contain
germs.

An incised wound is a simple cut made with a sharp body, like a knife,
producing merely a division of the tissues. The duller the body the more
force is required, the more tissues destroyed, and a greater time will
be required for healing. In a cut wound the edges are even and definite,
while those of a lacerated wound are irregular and torn. Three
conditions are present as a result of an incised wound: (1) Pain, (2)
hemorrhage, (3) gaping of the wound. The first pain is due to the
crushing and tearing of the nerve fibers. In using a sharp knife and by
cutting quickly, the animal suffers less pain and healing occurs more
rapidly. The secondary pain is usually due to the action of the air and
inflammatory processes. When air is kept from the wound pain ceases soon
after the lesion is produced. Hemorrhage is absent only in wounds of
nonvascular tissues, as the cornea of the eye, the cartilage of joints,
and other similar structures. Bleeding may be from the arteries, veins,
or capillaries. In the last form of bleeding the blood oozes from the
part in drops. Hemorrhage from the veins is dark red and issues in a
steady stream without spurting. In arterial bleeding the blood is bright
red and spurts with each heart beat. This latter variety of hemorrhage
is the most dangerous, and should be stopped at once before attempting
any further treatment. Bleeding from small veins and capillaries ceases
in a short time spontaneously, while larger vessels, especially
arteries, require some form of treatment to cause complete stoppage of
the hemorrhage.

HEMOSTASIA.

By this term is meant the checking of the flow of blood. It may be
accomplished by several methods, such as compress bandages, torsion, hot
iron, and ligatures. The heat from a hot iron will cause the immediate
clotting of the blood in the vessels, and this clot is further supported
by the production of a scab, or crust, over the portion seared. The iron
should be at a red heat. If at a white heat, the tissue is charred,
which makes it brittle and the bleeding is liable to be renewed. If the
iron is at a black heat, the tissue will stick to the iron and will pull
away from the surface of the wound. Cold water and ice bags quickly stop
capillary bleeding, while hot water is preferable in more excessive
hemorrhages. Some drugs, call