WOUNDS. 225 



ployed to close the wound in the neck after the oi^eration of 

 13hlebotomy. In the absence of a special pin, which can 

 now be procured, an ordinary pin may be used. The edges 

 of the wound are to be brought together and secured in 

 place by means of the pin, which in its turn is to be retained 

 in position by waxed hair, or silk, preferably the latter, which 

 is wound around the pin after the manner of a figure eight 

 (8). 



Quilled Suture. — This variety of suture consists of two 

 pieces of whalebone, wood, or some similar material, one on 

 each side of the wound, and connected by a silk thread, 

 -wire, etc. It is the form of suture usually employed in 

 ruptured or lacerated perineum, and is very useful in large 

 wounds where the lips have a tendency to gape, and con- 

 siderable force is required to prevent the wound opening, 

 the ordinary suture in such cases being liable to tear 

 out. 



Glover's Suture. — In this suture the stitch is passed from 

 within outwards, in the same way in Avhich a glove is 

 stitched, hence the name. It is a form of suture not much 

 used. 



Interrupted Suture.— This suture is formed by passing 

 the silk or wire through the edges of the wound, drawing 

 them together and tying the ends of the suture. By this 

 method each stitch is separate from and independent of all 

 the others;' consequently if one or more stitches break, suffi- 

 cient may still be left to retain the edges of the wound in 

 position. This is the best of all forms of sutures. 



Uninterrupted Suture. — This suture consists of one con- 

 tinuous thread, forming all of the stitches from one end to 

 the other of the wound ; hence is known as the ' uninter- 

 rupted suture.' It is objectionable for the reason that if one 

 stitch gives way, on account ofthe thread separating, they all 

 give way, and allow the lips of the wound to gape. In 



15 



