medicines that will kill germs or prevent their growth and 

 developinent in wounds. 



If it were not for germs or bacteria, all wounds would 

 heal readily and wounds would be of little iinportance except 

 where vital organs were mechanically crippled. As it is, 

 germs or bacteria get into wounds and growing cause the 

 formation of pus and retard the healing process. Certain 

 germs cause blood poisoning, gangrene and tetanus and very 

 frequently produce the death of the animal when the wound 

 by which they entered the animal's body was of relatively lit- 

 tle importance. 



Germs get into wounds from the skin and hair of the 

 animal, from the dust of the air and from surgical instru- 

 ments or other foreign bodies that may come in contact with 

 the wound. Even the hands of a person that may be treating 

 the wound are sources of wound infection uniess they have 

 first been carefully cleaned and disinfected. For thisreason 

 the greatest cleanliness must be observed in every thingcon- 

 nected with the treatment of wounds. 



Cleanliness is the first and most important rule in the 

 treatment of wounds. 



In spite of all precautions that can be taken in veter- 

 inary surgery, germs will get into the wounds of animáis. 

 To kill these germs or to prevent their growth that retards 

 the healing process it is necessary to apply antiseptics. 

 Antiseptics as a rule are poisonous medicines for exteru- 

 al use and they should not be given internally except when 

 prescribed by a competent person and then only iii small 

 amounts. 



Antiseptics, such as are applied to wounds, must be strong 

 enough to kill or prevent the growth of germs in wounds 

 but it is very important that they be not strong enough to 

 injure the very delicate wounds to which they are applied. 



There are a great variety of antiseptics both in a liquid 

 and powdered form, but only a few of the best and simplist 

 will be considered here. 



