450 WOUNDS. 



In many large wounds sufficient room for the escape of the 

 discharges, which are always profuse for the first few hours, 

 may be obtained by omitting one or even two sutures at the 

 most dependent part of the wound, which, if it be parallel to 

 the axis of the limb and the direction of the muscular fibres, 

 is easily brought together and maintained so by a few sutures, 

 placed about an inch apart. If the wound be transverse to the 

 direction of the limb or muscular fibres, with a cavity formed 

 by the retraction of the divided muscular fibres, it is difficult to 

 bring its lips into apposition ; and even when they are co- 

 adapted by firm and strong sutures, the skin into which they 

 are inserted is almost sure to slough, the process of healing 

 being at the same time retarded by the irritation set up, and 

 the blemish increased to a considerable extent. In such cases 

 the best plan is to bring the lips together at their extremities, 

 using the quilled suture, and leave a gap at the central portion 

 of the wound ; or, if the cavity be very deep and in a downward 

 direction, it may be necessary to make a counter-opening at its 

 inferior part, to allow the discharges to escape. If such be the 

 case, the lips of the original wound are to be brought together, 

 and it is possible they may heal by the adhesive process. 



The edges of wounds are kept in apposition by means of 

 sutures, pins, plasters, and bandages. Plasters are rarely used 

 in veterinary practice, but their employment, especially in 

 wounds in the lower portions of the extremities, may with 

 advantage be preferred to that of sutures, as they cause no 

 blemish. A longitudinal or even transverse wound situated on 

 a leg is easily brought together by plasters, over which a 

 moderately firm bandage can be applied; and a wound so 

 treated will heal in less time, and leave a smaller blemish, 

 than when sutures are employed. 



Various forms of sutures are employed for keeping the edges 

 of wounds together ; the interrupted suture is, however, the form 

 mostly in use, and the material "the metallic suture wire." 

 The wire causes less irritation than thread, and is to be always 

 used in preference. It can be had in thickness and strength 

 adaptable to almost all wounds, with needles grooved for the 

 purpose, from the instrument makers. 



The twisted suture, or the pinning of wounds, is performed 

 as follows : — Having brought the lips of the wound nearly into 



