WOUNDS AND INJURIES. 



465 



Fig, 24. 



Sutures. — The best Sutures for securing a wound are those 

 which receive the names of the Ttvisted and the Interrupted 

 Sutures. 



The Twisted Suture is made 

 by passing a strong pin through 

 each side of the wound, and 

 then drawing the borders closely 

 and securely together by means 

 of a short length of small, 

 coarsely-twisted hempen string, 

 which is afterwards made secure 

 around the pin, as shown in the 

 annexed engraving. The point 

 of the pin is then removed, and 

 one suture is complete. This 



r> f 1 • j_i 1 J x" Twisted Suture and Interrupted Sutui'e. 



form ot suture is the best tor 



wounds not immediately contiguous to any of the joints. In 

 having recourse to it, the operator should take firm hold of the 

 skin, and afterwards tie the pin firmly within its substance. 



The Interrupted Suture is made in a similar manner to the 

 twisted suture, only it is accomplished with a needle and silk, 

 instead of a pin and a short length of hempen string. A glance 

 at the annexed engraving will sufficiently explain the nature of 

 the operation. The needle should be broad and curved, and the 

 silk should be strong, and used of double thickness. This 

 form of stitch answers well when it can be made to hold 

 properly ; but sometimes the secretion from the wound 

 destroys the silk, and sometimes the stretch which is exerted 

 upon it by the skin and sub-tissues is so great as to cause the 

 silk to cut its way out of the skin ; the wound, in either case, 

 is opened afresh, and the cure is rendered more tedious in 

 consequence. 



2 G 



