152 The Care of Animals 



germs that hinder the healing process that antiseptics 

 are used. 



Practically all antiseptics are poisonous if used in 

 concentrated form, and if applied pure would burn and 

 destroy the tissues; hence, in practice, it is necessary to 

 use them in such a strength that they will destroy the 

 bacteria without injuring the living cells of the body. 

 Antiseptics are usually applied in solution to wounds, — 

 as medicine in this form more certainly penetrates to all 

 parts of the wound; and in deep wounds it is often the 

 only way antiseptics can be applied, and then only by 

 means of a syringe. When antiseptics are used in solu- 

 tions their strength is easily estimated, and the medicine 

 readily and uniformly distributed. Sometimes antisep- 

 tics possess other properties than as germicides. 



In addition to the methods of application above de- 

 scribed, antiseptics are applied by saturating cotton, 

 gauze or similar material, and placing it either in or 

 on the wound. In general, it is more satisfactory to 

 use weak antiseptics freely and frequently without dis- 

 turbing the wound. If they do not prove satisfactory, 

 the strength of the antiseptic may be increased. 



Corrosive sublimate, or bichlorid of mercury, comes 

 in the form of tablets, with directions for the amount 

 of water in which they are to be dissolved. The great- 

 est objection to it is its corrosive action on metals. It 

 should be kept in glass or earthen vessels. As corrosive 

 sublimate is a powerful poison, it should always be 

 plainly labeled and kept in a place secure from children 

 and others not familiar with its properties and uses. 

 It is ordinarily used in the strength of one part of 



