130 WOUND TREATMENT 



taken, the wound healed by primary union, and the 

 animal was back in service within a week. 



If a lacerated wound is fresh and clean, thorough 

 irrigation for from thirty minutes to two hours with a 

 salt solution is preferred without the application of a 

 disinfectant. 



After the wound is thoroughly cleansed, the various 

 parts of it may be adjusted, the kind of suture and the 

 method of suturing depending upon the nature of the 

 wound, always selecting that type of suture which will 

 hold it in the best position with the least destruction of 

 tissue. When a wound is sutured, especially if it is of 

 large size, it is necessary to provide it with drainage. 



In the treatment of granulation wounds of long stand- 

 ing, it is possible in many instances to render them 

 aseptic and bring the wound margins in apposition, thus 

 inducing primary union. In some instances, however, 

 there is so much tissue destroyed that it is impossible 

 to obtain immediate union, even though the wound is 

 thoroughly cleansed. 



Antiseptics Often Misused 



There is no question but that the application of anti- 

 septics as frequently practiced is harmful, and that the 

 tissues are often injured and wound healing retarded 

 by the application of such agents. Wounds are pro- 

 tected by the inflammatory exudate which usually oozes 

 to the surface, thus favoring granulation, which ulti- 

 mately results in the filling of the gap and completing 

 the union of the tissues, the time required being much 

 less than if tissues are repeatedly destroyed by the 

 frequent application of antiseptics. 



