DIVISION OF TISSUES. 87 



wounds movement of the injured part should be prevented as far 

 as possible by splints and supporting bandages, and, in horses, by- 

 slinging. 



In routine practice, preference should be given to such methods 

 of treatment as are simple, effective, and relatively cheap, but 

 expense should be regarded as of secondary importance when dealing 

 with penetrating wounds of the thorax, abdomen, joints, tendon 

 sheaths, and with injuries to tendons, ligaments, and bones. It 

 then becomes the duty of the practitioner to prevent, by every means 

 in his power, the grave infectious complications which frequently 

 result from such wounds. The unfavourable conditions under which 

 he habitually works, render primary union of wounds in the greater 

 number of cases uncertain. But, when unable to satisfy all the 

 demands of the antiseptic system, he should at least observe its 

 broad principles. 



V.— DIVISION OF TISSUES. 



Cutting and Puncturing Instruments. The first method of 

 dividing soft tissues is by means of cutting instruments, as knives 

 or scissors. 



Knives are of varying form and size : those in which the blade 

 and handle are immovable are termed scalpels ; those in which 

 the blade is protected with scales and turns on a hinge, bistouries. 



Knives, again, may be divided into sharp-pointed and guarded 

 or probe-pointed ; either of these may be straight, convex, or 

 concave. 



Scissors are either sharp or round-pointed, and flat or curved 

 in the blades (see Figs. 74, 75 and 76). 



In making primary incisions a knife with a convex cutting edge 

 is usually employed, and is grasped after the manner of a table knife 

 (Fig. 91). In making long incisions the knife is held like a violin 

 bow (Figs. 92, 93). For finer dissection the knife is employed after 

 the manner of a pen (Fig. 94). 



In dividing tissues from within outwards the knife is grasped 

 in a similar way, but the cutting edge is now directed upwards (Figs. 

 95, 96, and 97). Incisions are made by a light, drawing movement 

 of the whole hand, usually from left to right, seldom in the opposite 

 direction. 



The parts to be divided should be rendered tense by placing the 

 thumb of the left hand on one side and the index ringer on the other 

 side of the line of incision, and employing gentle traction (Fig. 98). 



