DEFINITION.—By these are meant that description of injury to the soft parts where the skin and subtextures, instead of being simply divided, are torn asunder and present a jagged and irregular appearance, and are often much bruised. CAUSES.—They are caused by mechanical injuries, such as hooks and nails in stables, or by carriage poles or shafts running into a horse. TREATMENT.—Our first object is to remove all foreign bodies from the wound, and to cut off all lacerated portions, whether of skin, muscle or tendon, which cannot be retained in their original position. Then all grit or sand must be washed away by dashing cold water on the wound, should there be much hemorrhage; or bathing it with warm water, should the bleeding be inconsiderable. Having thus produced a tolerably even and clean wound, and removed those parts which we know would be removed by sloughing, we assist nature by sewing up such portions of skin and muscle as are not too much injured to preclude the hope of their growing in their original position, although we may abandon all hopes of the wound uniting by the first intention. This we accomplish by thread sutures, as in the case of incised wounds, but with this difference, that we do not bring the lips of the wound together, but at once have recourse to hot applications and bandages wherever they can be applied. The use of the latter is to preserve the lacerated parts in their original position, to exclude air, and to prevent the water washing away the lymph, which is necessary for the filling up of the wound; consequently the bandage should not be removed for a few days, except that the swelling renders it actually necessary to do so. The warm application reduces the tension in the part, favors circulation and the exudation of lymph, and by its soothing effects prevents that constitutional disturbance which is so much to be dreaded in this class of wounds. In about a week the inflammation will have partially subsided and suppuration will most probably have taken place, when we remove the bandage and discontinue the hot application, merely letting a little water run over the wound to remove superfluous matter. It is undesirable to use a sponge, because it would remove the lymph at the same time and expose the small vessels to the atmosphere, which are busily engaged in repairing the injury, which, acting on them as an irritant, causes them to secrete exuberant and unhealthy granulations called “proud flesh.” For the same reason, unless the matter is very plentiful and has a bad smell, it is better not to apply even water, or in any way remove the lymph.