430 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 
PEOCESS OF HEALIXG. 
In those cases where perfect stoppage of bleeding, perfect coaptation 
of the edges of the wound, and perfect cleanliness are obtained, healing 
occurs within three days, without the formation of granulations, pus, or 
proud flesh, by what is termed first intention. If wounds do not heal in 
this manner they will gap somewhat and become warm and painful. 
Healing then occurs by granulation or suppuration, which is termed 
healing by second intention. The sides of the wound become covered with 
granulation tissue which may fill the wound and sometimes overlap the 
lips, forming a fungoid growth called proud flesh. Under favorable condi- 
tions the edges of the wound appear to grow together by the end of the 
first week, and the whole surface gradually becomes dry, and finally cov- 
ered with pigmented skin, when the wound is healed. The cause of pus 
formation in wounds is usually due to the presence of germs. For this 
reason the utmost care should be adopted to keep clean wounds aseptic, 
or free from germs, and to make unclean wounds antiseptic by using 
antiseptic fluids to kill the microbes present in the wound. The less the 
injurious action of this fluid on the wound, and the greater its power 
to kill germs, the more valuable it becomes. All antiseptics are not 
equally destructive, and some germs are more susceptible to one antisep- 
tic than to another. The most important are (1) bichloride of mercury, 
which is to be preferred on horses. It becomes weakened in its action if 
placed in a wooden pail or on an oily or greasy surface. It is used in 
the strength of 1 part of bichloride to 1,000 to 5,000 parts of w^ater, ac- 
cording to the delicacy of the tissues to which it is applied. (2) Carbolic 
acid in from 2 to 5 per cent solution is used on infected wounds and 
for cleaning instruments, dressing, and sponges. It unites well with 
oil and is preferred to the bichloride of mercury on a greasy surface. A 
5 per cent solution in oil is often used under the name of carbolized oil. 
(3) Aluminum acetate is an efficient and cheap antiseptic, and is com- 
posed of 1 part alum and 5 parts acetate of lead, mixed in 20 parts of 
water. (4) Boracic acid is good in a 2 to 4 per cent solution to cleanse 
wounds and wash eyes. Creolin and lysol may be used in a 2 to 5 per cent 
solution in water. Iodoform is one of the most used of the antiseptics 
and it also acts as an anodyne, stimulates granulation, and checks wound 
secretion. A very efficacious and inexpensive powder is made by taking 
5 parts of iodoform and 95 parts of sugar, making what is called iodoform 
sugar. Tannic acid is a useful drug in the treatment of wounds, in that 
it arrests hemorrhage, checks secretion, and favors the formation of a 
scab. A mixture of 1 part tannic acid and 3 parts iodoform is good in 
suppurating wounds. lodol, white sugar, ground and roasted coffee, and 
powdered charcoal are all used as protectives and absorbents on suppurat- 
ing surfaces. More depends on the care and the method of application 
of the drug than en the drug itself. On aseptic wounds use only those 
antiseptics that do not irritate the tissue. If care is used in the appli- 
cation of the antiseptic, corrosive sublimate or carbolic acid is to be 
recommended, but in the hands of irresponsible parties lysol or creolin 
is safer. In order to keep air from the wound and to absorb all wound 
secretions rapidly, a dressing should be applied. If the wound is aseptic, 
