MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 97 



355. Close the wound. Sutures and bandages are used for this 

 purpose, but no wound that has been dirty must ever be entirely 

 closed. 



Sutures as a rule may be dispensed with entirely. They may 

 occasionally be used in parts where there is little flesh, such as 

 around the forehead, eyelids, and nose. They are less useful in 

 fleshy parts, because the movements of the muscles and the swelling 

 resulting from the inflammation of the injured tissues cause them 

 to pull out. Again, sutures must not be used when the edges of the 

 wound are badly torn. 



In applying sutures, the borders of the wound must be brought 

 together in their natural position, care being taken not to allow 

 the edges of the skin to curl inward. The thread, with the aid 

 of a needle, is passed through the skin at one side of the wound 

 and out at the other. The sutures should be from one-fourth to 

 one-half an inch from each edge, about three-fourths of an inch apart, 

 and their depth should be about equal to their distance from the 

 edge of the wound. They should be drawn just tight enough to 

 bring the edges of the skin together. As a rule, they should be 

 removed in about eight days. 



356. Drainage. In all wounds drainage is necessary for the 

 removal of serum and pus that would otherwise accumulate in them. 

 The escape of such material must be provided for at the lowest part 

 of the wound. If the wound be a vertical (upright) one, this may be 

 accomplished by leaving out a stitch at the bottom. In horizontal 

 wounds (wounds running lengthwise with the body), a small vertical 

 opening must be made below the line of stitches. 



357. Drassings. Wounds that have been sutured and also 

 wounds that are to be treated without suturing, should be dried 

 carefully with dry gauze or cotton, painted with tincture of iodine, 

 or dusted with an antiseptic powder, covered with dry gauze or 

 cotton and a bandage applied. Or, cotton soaked in an antiseptic 

 solution may be put on and held in position by a bandage, care 

 being taken to avoid undue pressure. 



If the location of the wound will not permit bandaging, the in- 

 jured parts may be painted with tincture of iodine or dusted with an 

 antiseptic powder, and covered with a clean piece of cloth or gunny 

 sack, the inside of which may be lined with a piece of gauze large 

 enough to cover the wound. 



358. Best and restraint. This will depend entirely upon the 

 ^ture and extent of the wound. If the injury be slight, the animal 



