SUTURES OR STITCHES 



417 



The Twisted Suture. — This variety of suture is much employed in 

 veterinary surgery, especially in connection with short superficial wounds. 

 It is formed by inserting two or more pins or needles, or other suitable 

 material, through the lips of the incision. The pins should be placed at 

 ec^ual distances apart of not less than half to three-quarters of an inch, and 



Fi". 415. — Twisted Sutiiro 



Fig. 416. — Circular-twist Suture 



should be made to enter the skin from half an inch to an inch from one of 

 its edges, and to reappear at the same distance from the other on the 

 opposite side. 



The requisite number of pins having been introduced, a piece of silk, 

 catgut, or some soft thick thread or other material should be twisted around 

 each one of them in the form of 

 the figure 8 (fig. 415), or it may 

 be made to describe the circular 

 twist (fig. 416). In carrying 

 the suture from one pin to the 

 other, the crossing of the thread 

 should be made to lie over the 

 line of the wound as shown in 

 the diagrams. 



The Quilled Suture (fig. 

 417) is employed in the adjust- 

 ment of deep wounds, the surfaces of which it maintains in apposition, 

 while the edges are brought together by additional sutures of wire, silk, 

 or other material. 



The quilled suture consists of a series of interrupted sutures tied on 

 either side of the wound to a quill, stout pencil, or some other and stronger 

 cylindrical substance, according to the amount of support the divided parts 

 may require. 



Vol. II. 61 



Fig. 417. — Quilled Suture 



