SUTURES OR STITCHES 



419 



the detached skin and flesh has a tendency to become displaced by its own 



weio-ht, deep stitches of stout flexible wire or catgut should be inserted 



(stitches of relaxation) at some distance from the edges of the wound, in 



order to remove any strain or 



undue tension from those unit- ' "" 



ing the edges of the wound 



(stitches .of coaptation). 



Plasters. There are many 

 wounds in the horse which do 

 not admit of being bandaged, 

 and difficulty is experienced in 

 maintaining antiseptic dress- 

 ings in position. In some of 

 these cases strong plasters may 

 be found to answer the purpose. 



Thin strips of leather smeared on one side with shoemakers' wax, strong 

 glue, or some other adhesive composition may be made to secure them. 



Where plasters are employed the patient should be tied up in such 

 a way as to pre- 

 vent them being 

 rubbed off. 



Needles of 



various forms and 

 sizes are employed 

 for the insertion 



V 



Fig. 419. Various Patterns of Suture Needles 



Fig. 420. Suture Needle, French Pattern 



Fig. 421. Suture Needle, grooved, for Wire 



Of 



Fig. 422. Suture Needle with Screw Spring Eye for Wire 



of sutures, 

 these some are 

 straight, others 

 curved, either 

 throughout their 

 length or towards 

 the point (fig. 

 419). The point 



the needle IS Fig 4 23._Wire-cutting Forceps and Needle-Holder 



in some cases 



round, in others flat, and in others again triangular. An eye for the 

 reception of the thread exists at one extremity, and for some purposes 

 also at the other. When an eye occurs at the point, the needle should 

 be grooved to let in the thread and facilitate its passage through the flesh. 

 A special form of needle is provided for metallic sutures ; on either side 

 of the end of the needle proceeding backward from the eye is a groove into 



