512 TREATMENT OF ABDOMINAL WOUNDS. 



of tissue, likely to become necrotic, should be removed. The wound 

 is washed out very carefully with disinfectants, one of the best of 

 which is corrosive sublimate. It may then be sutured with 

 sterilised silk ; cat-gut is not sufficiently strong. The abdominal 

 muscles and the skin should be brought together separately with 

 deep stitches, so that should washing-out afterwards become necessary 

 the outer stitches alone need be loosened. On account of the great 

 strain which the stitches must support, particularly in herbivora, 

 quilled sutures are employed in closing wounds of the abdominal 

 walls. Where pocketing of considerable quantities of wound dis- 

 charge is probable, drains must be inserted, and the parts once more 

 rinsed with disinfecting fluid. The several dressings are kept in place 

 by surgical bandages passed around the body ; bandages also are 

 sometimes introduced between layers of dressings. In small animals, 

 to prevent displacement from breathing movements, the bandages 

 are wound around both the thorax and abdomen. 



Should it subsequently become necessary to cast a large animal 

 in order to insert stitches or adjust dressings, care will be required 

 to prevent prolapse or to protect prolapsed organs. For these purposes 

 it may be necessary to apply a provisional dressing. In many cases 

 anaesthesia is of assistance. After adjusting the dressing, the animal 

 must be kept as quiet as possible. Dogs are often troublesome, 

 and as they try to tear off the dressing, must be continually watched, 

 or receive a full dose of morphine, so that they shall sleep for several 

 hours. The larger animals may, if practicable, be placed in slings. 



For several days the food chosen should be digestible, nutritious, 

 and small in amount, and water given only in small quantities. 

 Daring this time fever may supervene ; if not marked and if symptoms 

 of colic are absent, a favourable termination may be expected. The 

 dressing is left undisturbed, unless it become saturated with discharge, 

 or fever or other untoward symptom appear, when it is removed, 

 the wound cleansed, disinfected and the dressing replaced. Where 

 from any cause dressings cannot be employed, the wound, after 

 being cleansed and sutured, is irrigated with antiseptic fluids. Danger 

 of wound infection and peritonitis is greatest during the first three 

 days, but for some time afterwards the same precautions regarding 

 the wound must be observed and care taken to facilitate drainage. 

 A rise in temperature points to peritonitis, or abscess formation, 

 and necessitates fresh examination of the wound, or at least the 

 renewal of the dressing. 



(c) Abdominal Wounds, with Prolapse of Internal Organs. The 

 prolapse of portions of omentum, bowel, uterus, or other abdominal 



