76 



PATHOLOGY. 



sonable size. A darning needle and ordinary white cotton thread 

 or twine will do very well in an emergency. But if the wound 

 is made across the muscle and gaps widely, it is usually unwise 

 to sew, for the sutures will cut out in a few days and make the 

 scar much worse than if it had been left alone. 



Bandaging. ^Occasionally a wound is such that the edges 

 can be held together by means of bandages. If this can be done, 

 there may be considerable advantage in so doing, but these wounds 

 are rare. Bandages must be changed frequently and the wound 

 kept clean. 



Washing.- Few of these 

 wounds are benefited by wash- 

 ing or other external treatment. 

 If a wound is such that pus can 

 drain from it freely and as rap- 

 idly as formed, there is little to 

 be gained by washing. If on the 

 contrary there are deep recesses 

 or pockets from which the pus 

 cannot drain, then the wound 

 must be so altered that these 

 pockets will drain or else they 

 must be washed out, otherwise 

 the pus may burrow deeper. 



Carbolic acid is commonly 

 used so dilute that it is without 

 effect. When used strong enough 

 to be distinctly antiseptic it be- 



•••',,, , FIG. 31. BADLY TREATED WIRE 



comes mjunous to the wound wound, d/. //. r.) 



surface. If washing is neces- 

 sary, use warm water containing a trace of salt, just enough sail 

 so that it can be tasted. This is efficient and not injurious. In 

 any case the wound surface must not be rubbed over durine the 

 process of washing. 



Dry treatment. — Sometimes quicker and better results can 

 be obtained by the use of nonirritating and stringent antiseptic 

 powder; for instance, the following: iodoform, boracic acid, and 

 tannic acid, in equal parts. This may be dusted over the surface 

 once daily to produce an artificial scab. 



