bottom of the wound. The ski a and other parts about the 

 wound should also be cleaned and disinfected with the 

 antiseptic. The object of the cleaning and disinfecting is to 

 reniove foreign bodies and kill all germs that will retard the 



healing of the wound. 



CLOS1NG THE WOUND 



As a rule wounds gape leaving an opening that is impor- 

 tant to cióse as it will heal more quickly and leave a smaller 

 scar, henee after the wound is cleaned and disinfected the 

 edges should be brought and held together if possible. In 

 some cases this is difficult or impossible, particularly in 

 wounds where the muscles of the legs are cut across, as the 

 cut muscles contract and it is often impossible tobring them 

 together, or if they are brought together the least movement 

 of the animal tears the stitches out. 



Wounds can be closed in several ways. The most conve- 

 nient method where it can be used is by means of a baudage. 

 The bandage should be of stout 

 cloth two and one-half to three 

 inches wide and six feet long, rolled 

 into a neat roll (See Fig. i). 



Before the bandage is applied 

 the wound should be covered with 

 a layer of absorbent cotton saturated 

 with a weak antiseptic, such as a i 

 to 1.000 solution of bichloride of 



mercury or a 3% solution of carbolic acid. Care must be 

 taken that the cotton does not get between the edges of the 

 wound. In case the absorbent cotton cannot be applied, 

 dust the outside of the wound with a powdered antisepte. 

 Apply the bandage, beginning from below and winding 

 upward, putting it on smoothly and firmly, but not tight 

 enough to interfere with the circulation of the blood, and be 

 careful to get the edges of the wound together as evenly as 

 possible. 



Figure N v i 



