102 



BANDAGES. 



Ill veterinary practice, this method of uniting wounds can only 

 be used in rare instances, partly because of the presence of hair, 

 partly because of the animal's resistance and the violent contraction 

 of its muscles, especially of its panniculus muscle. If plaster is 

 applied, even in broad strips, over the hair it soon looses its hold, 

 and the wound gapes or the continuous pull tears out the hair with 

 a similar result. When the hair is shaved and the strips applied 



directly to the skin, they 

 are apt to become detached 

 by the rapidly growing new 

 hair before firm union of 

 the wound surfaces has taken 

 place. 



Bandages, however, can 

 be employed with greater 

 success. In many positions, 

 for example in the extremi- 

 ties, union can be effected 

 by using bandages without 

 the help of sutures ; but the 

 method is never thoroughly 

 reliable, for which reason 

 bandages are best utilised 

 to reinforce or assist sutures, 

 to neutralise excessive ten- 

 sion and tearing out of the 

 threads, or to check move- 

 ment, and thus ensure the 

 most favourable conditions 

 for union. 



Formerly little attention 

 was given to the proper use 

 of sutures, and it was thought 

 that in animals wounds 

 seldom healed by primary 

 intention, the reason being that operators took little pains to ensure 

 antisepsis, and consequently the sutures rapidly tore out. Only 

 fresh wounds were sutured, and old wounds were always " freshened " 

 before being united. It is true that fresh wounds present the most 

 favourable conditions for healing by first intention, but it is also 

 possible to bring together granulating surfaces and effect healing. 

 Furthermore, bruised or torn wounds were not sutured, though even 



Fig. 134. 



-Largu's suture 

 needle ; metal handle 

 for aseptic surgery. 



Fig. 135. 

 De Mooij's suture 

 needle all metal, 

 for aseptic sur- 

 gery. 



