48 .. WOUND TREATMENT 



tions and environment of these animals in the country. 

 My experience in the attempt I made at aseptic castra- 

 tion carried out by means of ligature was that no sup- 

 puration or swelling occurred, but the animal died of 

 septicemia and septic peritonitis. Had suppuration and 

 swelling occurred,, probably the case would not have 

 resulted fatally. At the same time I believe in all pos- 

 sible attention to surgical cleanliness and to antisepsis 

 during the operation of castration, although I know full 

 well these measures will be frustrated in their results 

 by the owner or attendant of the animal. How infec- 

 tion occurs in castration wounds is so obvious that I 

 need not refer to the subject. 



Treatment of Accidental Wounds 



When operation wounds suppurate or become septic, 

 they are in the same category as accidental wounds so 

 far as treatment is concerned. 



Every accidental wound may be assumed to be in- 

 fected, to a greater or less extent. 



In carrying out treatment, there are certain impor- 

 tant procedures necessary, which I shall refer to under 

 the following headings : 



1. Arrest of Hemorrhage. — In order to be able to 

 explore a wound with any degree of accuracy, to say 

 n(n^.ing of checking preventable waste of blood, hemo- 

 stasis is of prime import. This is to be accomplished 

 by means of torsion or compression of all bleeding ves- 

 sels or by ligation. 



2. Cleansing and Disinfecting of the Wound. — 

 This is carried out by careful washing with an anti- 

 septic solution. As to the agent selected it is largely 

 a question of choice. The large number of reliable 

 germicides that are now on the market render a selec- 

 tion comparatively easy. Carbolic acid is still largely 



