TREATMENT OF WOUNDS 99 



latter the money is earned by skill while in the former 

 it was not earned at all; the patient would have been 

 about as well off without any expert (?) interference; 

 common everyday home treatment would have done just 

 as well. In the former the patients were marred for 

 life, while in the latter their full value is restored. In the 

 former the patients were disabled two months, in the 

 latter two to three weeks. Our plan of handling acci- 

 dental wounds of the body is as follows: 



1. Restraint. — Even tractable patients always put up 

 a pretty vigorous opposition against interference with a 

 wound recently inflicted. They especially object to the 

 suturing, and as wounds are often located where there 

 is danger of the veterinarian sustaining personal injury, 

 it is difficult and tedious to carry out the treatment 

 without some form of effectual control. Much the best 

 plan is to use the operating table. Removal to the hos- 

 pital should be insisted upon where the distance is not 

 too great. Here the patient will be well controlled and 

 well positioned to carry out every detail from beginning 

 to end. For outdoor work the standing position will be 

 found better than casting harnesses. In the latter 

 almost every wound is in an awkward position near the 

 ground, difficult of access and in tiresome position for 

 the operator to work so long. Some form of improvised 

 stocks to keep the patient from lunging about, supple-, 

 mented with a sideline or breeding hopples, may be made 

 to answer the purpose. Then the operation may be made 

 less painful by wiping the internal surface of the skin 

 with tAvo-per-cent cocain solution as far from the edges 

 as the needle points will be located. This will greatly 

 but not entirely control the pain of suturing. This same 

 form of anesthesia may also be used when the patient is 

 secured on the operating table. It prevents annoying 

 struggles which raise dust and otherwise interfere with 



