injured. Injuries to the foot, periosteum, skin and mucous membrane are
more painful than are injuries to cartilages and tendons. The appearance of
the wound varies in the different regions and the different tissues.

If the tissues are badly torn or bruised, swelling and sloughing may occur.
If the wound is transverse to the muscular fibres, it gaps more than when
parallel to the muscle. When infected by irritating organisms, open and
punctured wounds (Fig. 58) become badly swollen, discharge pus freely and
heal slowly with excessive granulations. Wounds involving tendons, bursae
and closed articulations become swollen and discharge synovia. Wounds
involving muscles, tendons and bursae usually cause lameness, and when
involving a special organ, interfere with, or destroy, its function.
Extensive or serious wounds may be followed by loss of appetite. An
abnormal body temperature and other symptoms characteristic of the
different forms of blood poisoning may follow infection of the injured
tissues by certain germs.

[Illustration: FIG. 58.--A large hock caused by a punctured wound of the
joint.]

The rapidity with which wounds heal depends upon the kind of tissue injured
and the amount to be replaced, the degree of motion in the part, the kind
and degree of infection and irritation and the general condition of the
animal. In general, skin and muscles heal rapidly, tendons slowly,
cartilages unsatisfactorily and nerve tissue very slowly. Healing is
greatly interfered with by movement of the part (Fig. 59). The more nearly
the part can be fixed or rested, the more quickly and satisfactorily does
healing occur. Irritation by biting, nibbling, licking, bandaging, wrong
methods of treatment and filth retard healing and may result in serious
wound complications. An animal in poor physical condition, or one kept