Such
wounds are always in front, not over vital organs, and superficial in
character. Note the condition of the clothes in such cases.
XIII.--GUNSHOT WOUNDS
These may be punctured, contused, or lacerated. Round balls make a
larger opening than those which are conical. Small shot fired at a short
distance make one large ragged opening; while at distances greater than
3 feet the shot scatter and there is no central opening. The Lee-Metford
bullet is more destructive than the Mauser. The former is the larger,
but the difference in size is not great. The Martini-Henry bullet
weighs 480 grains, the Lee-Metford 215, and the Mauser 173. Speaking
generally, a gunshot wound, unlike a punctured wound, becomes larger as
it increases in depth; the aperture of entrance is round, clean, with
inverted edges, and that of exit larger, less regular than that of
entrance, and with everted edges.
In the case of high-velocity bullets from smooth-bore rifles, including
the Mauser and Lee-Metford, the aperture of entry is small; the aperture
of exit is slightly larger, and tends to be more slit-like. There is but
little tendency to carry in portions of clothing or septic material, and
the wound heals by first intention, if reasonable precautions be taken.
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