OPERATIONS WITHOUT ANTISEPTICS. 91 



solution, dried with tampons of absorbent wool, and covered with a 

 film of iodoform collodion, or with a dressing of surgical wool. 



When it is impossible to briqg the surfaces of the wound per- 

 fectly together, or when there has been much loss of substance, 

 provision must be made to prevent the accumulation of discharges 

 by inserting one or more rubber drainage-tubes, a carefully disinfected 

 plaited horsehair tape, a strand of plaited silkworm ligatures, or a 

 strip of gauze. Rubber drainage-tubes are generally employed. They 

 can be fixed to the lips of the wound by a silk or silkworm-gut suture. 

 Their presence allows antiseptic injections to be made into the bottom 

 of the wound without touching the sutures. 



The above are the measures required to absolutely prevent 

 infection of operative wounds. Minutiae and superfluous details 

 have been omitted. Most human hospitals contain highly' com- 

 plicated installations for absolutely ensuring success, permitting the 

 operator to obtain union by primary intention, and to avoid bad 

 consequences even after prolonged manipulation within the abdominal 

 cavity. Almost all the veterinary schools of Europe similarly 

 contain operating theatres provided with installations and material 

 for facilitating the practice of asepsis and antisepsis. 



It is not indispensable rigorously to follow this technique in every 

 case to obtain good results. Even in human operations performed 

 outside hospitals or special nursing institutions the surgeon is able 

 to insure a sufficient antisepsis without such complicated measures. 

 Degive, who published a series of one hundred castrations of 

 cr3'ptorchids without a single casualty, certainly did not conform 

 in every respect to the rules of antisepsis. Although very important 

 when operating in a contaminated area like the atmosphere of a 

 hospital, such rules can be parth' neglected in operations prac- 

 tised under more favourable circumstances, in either town or 

 country. Even without such an array of instruments, vessels, 

 antiseptics, and dressing materials, asepsis can be so nearly secured 

 as to ensure good results. Moreover many operations must be 

 performed on the spot, and with the means at hand, if the patient 

 is to be saved. In such cases one operates under a shed or in 

 the open air. To prevent dust produced by the animal's struggles 

 soiling the seat of operation, the bed may be slightly moistened. 

 Two large dishes contain respectively a strong solution of common 

 salt and boiled water. The seat of operation having been denuded 

 of hair, either with a clipping machine or by shaving, is thoroughly 

 scrubbed with soap and water by means of a nail-brush, and 



