146 WOUND TREATMENT 



W. W. Grant, speaking of handling wounds that accom- 

 pany fractures, says : 



"At the present time it is not considered advisable to 

 enlarge the wound or to irrigate, unless dirt or some in- 

 fective material is in the wound. The old maxim, which 

 considered every compound fracture as infected, is not 

 sound nor borne out in practice." 



In an article on wound and skin sterilization Dr. Lile 

 says, in the International Journal of Surgery: ''The 

 plan adopted by the writer in all cut, bruised or lacer- 

 ated w^ounds is never to wash, but before allowing any- 

 thing to come in contact with the wound to swab it off 

 with the five-per-cent tincture of iodin and cover with 

 sterile gauze." 



While the foregoing remarks are mainly in reference 

 to human surgery, veterinary surgeons can afford to pay 

 some attention to them. Excessive washing of w^ounds 

 is the rule in veterinary practice, and no doubt works 

 as adversely in our patients as it does in human beings. 

 One hindrance to an ideal handling of wounds in our 

 patients, especially equine patients, is the tendency to- 

 ward exuberant granulations, or "proud flesh," as it is 

 commonly called. It is my opinion, formed through prac- 

 tical experience, that this tendency is aggravated by 

 much washing or other applications, such as irrigating 

 with antiseptic solutions. 



Referring to the sterilization of the unbroken skin for 

 surgical incision. Dr. Lile says in the same paper, "In 

 operating where the skin is unbroken the surface is first 

 painted with gasolin or benzin, then dried with sterile 

 gauze or a towel, and painted with the standard iodin 

 solution, and the patient is ready." He also remarks 

 that to Grossich is due the credit of bringing iodin dis- 

 infection to its present scientific basis and that he has 

 "called attention to the fact that thorough sterilization 



