154 ELEMENTARY OPERATIONS. 



of the wound. To apply it, a double tkread, with the ends knot- 

 ted, is passed through the edges of the wound, and several stitches 

 made in succession, as in the regular simple interrupted suture. 

 When these are in place, the support (quill, pencil or otherwise) is 

 passed through the lap of each double thread on one side of the 

 wound. Drawing this first quill close to the skin, the threads are 

 separated, and, between them, a second quill appHed on the other 

 border of the wound, and secured in place by a knot. 



This suture is recommended for wounds of the abdomen. Peuch 

 and Toussaint recommend it after the removal of mammary tumors 

 in bitches. Sometimes elastic cords are used, in preference to or- 

 dinary threads, as being less putrescible, and jdelding better to the 

 inflammatory swelling, etc. 



Director Degive frequently employs the elastic suture wit/i ad- 

 hesive bandages (Fig. 193). 



Two adhesive bandages, of dimensions proportionate to that 

 of the wound, are glued on each side of it. These carry near the 

 border, in the neighborhood of the edges of the wound, small 

 holes, through which elastic rings are passed. These rings repre- 

 sent the threads used in the other mode of procedure, and through 

 these rings the quills or pins are placed, which will rest on the 

 outside of the bandages and keej) them in place. 



6. The single ^nn suture is a simple opera- 

 tion for small wounds, commonly used as the 

 last step of the operation of bleeding, and b}' 

 which both edges of the wound are brought 

 Fig. 194.— Single Pin together with a pin, and seciu'ed by a special 

 Suture. double loop or hitch called the bleeding knot. 



7. Twisted Suture (Figs. 195, 196).— This is frequently used 

 for wounds of the eyelids or of the nostrils. It consists in placing 

 through the borders of the wound as many pins as may be neces- 

 sary, and holding them by twists of thread. Ordinary pins are 

 generally used in veterinary surgery. 



The pins are secured in different ways. In one case, the twists 

 are so made as to form a series of figure 8s, placing them two or 

 three times successively, first around the pin at one extremity of 

 the wound and relocating the movement with each pin. In an- 

 other way, instead of making a figui-e 8, the threads are turned 

 arovmd the pins at each stitch, suiTounding all Avith a circular 

 thread. 



