CICATRIZATION OF WOUNDS 67 



they were destroyed by appropriate treatment. The granu- 

 lated surface and environing skin were carefully washed with 

 neutral sodium oleate (soap). The granulations were then 

 sterilized by means of the Dakin solution (no. 30)^ or no. 142 

 (sodium toluene — sulphonchloramide, Dakin), for short: 

 Chloramine-T. When the microscopic examination showed 

 that sterilization had been obtained, the wound was dressed 

 either with neutral sodium stearate containing small quantities 

 of antiseptic, or simply with vaseline, lanoline, or salt water 

 (physiological isotonic solution at 0-9 per cent of sodium 

 chloride). It was thus possible to maintain wounds bacterio- 

 logically sterile during several weeks, sometimes months. The 

 daily bacterial examination immediately revealed any return 

 of infection and permitted us to take it into account in the 

 interpretation of the experiment. It was on wounds thus 

 prepared according to Dr. Carrel's technique that the pro- 

 gress of cicatrization was studied as well as the comparative 

 action of different antiseptics. 



As I have already explained, the drawing of the wound was 

 obtained by means of cellophane. These thin sterile sheets 

 were applied on the surface of the wound with a dab of cotton. 

 The outline of the epithelial edge or outline of the granulations 

 was drawn with a dermographic or wax pencil, and also when 

 possible the edge of the cicatrix at the line of junction with 

 the healthy skin. This drawing was then reproduced on 

 a sheet of ordinary paper. Fig. 12 is the reproduction of 

 such a series of drawings from the beginning (moment when 

 the wound was recognized as sterile) to the end of the experi- 

 ment. As can be seen, the drawings were generally made 

 every four days. The area of each drawing could then be 

 obtained in square centimetres by means of the planimeter. 

 When the outline of the cicatrix could be taken, a second 

 figure was obtained. 



The graphic expression of the cu^ve was easy to establish. 

 As is customary, the time was carried as abscissae, that is to 

 say horizontally on millimetre paper (squared in millimetres) 



' Later prepared according to Dr. Daufresne's improved technique. 



