WOUND INFECTIONS 271 



such cases renders them less able to resist infection 

 and less apt to unite by adhesion. 



It often happens, also, that the wound is infected at 

 the time it is inflicted. Thus in a gunshot wound a 

 portion of the clothing to which numerous germs are 

 attached may be carried into the wound. Or the 

 bullet itself may be infected, although this is no doubt 

 of rare occurrence. 



Lacerated wounds are often inflicted with stones, 

 pieces of wood, or other objects which have dirt 

 adhering to them, which may contain various patho- 

 genic bacteria, and which are liable to remain lodged 

 in the wound. Such a wound may be cleansed and 

 rendered aseptic by being thoroughly washed with 

 sterile water (boiled or distilled), or it may be washed 

 with an antiseptic solution and treated with antisep- 

 tic dressings to prevent the development of any bac- 

 teria which may chance to remain hidden away in the 

 wound. 



