SUUGICAL OPERATIONS. 315 



ter which, in case of animals of the ox tribe, invariably devolves upon 

 the owner or his employes. It must not, however, be inferred from this 

 that the matter is of secondary importance. The dressing of wounds 

 is one of the most important branches of veterinary surgery, and one 

 of the most constant difficulties that the practicing veterinarian has to 

 < niit!'iid with lies in the want of appreciation on the part of owners in 

 the absolute importance of care and attention in the after treatment of 

 wounds. It is for this reason that the writer is averse to closing this 

 portion of his task without pointedly calling attention to the fact that 

 it is very largely to skillful, patient, and careful dressing that satisfac- 

 tory recovery from most serious accidents is due, and this unswerving 

 vigilance and solicitude I would bespeak not only for the injured parts, 

 but for the general care of the animal and its surroundings. 



The first and foremost consideration in the dressing of a wound is 

 the observance of scrupulous cleanliness. The most subtle medica- 

 ments are worse than wasted if dirt claims a 50 per cent interest in 

 the business, as is too often the case upon the farm where the care ot 

 an animal is relegated to the ignorant and thoughtless hired help. 

 Unless an animal is in slings, straw and other foreign bodies as well as 

 blood and necessary discharges usually adhere to a wound when it 

 comes to be dressed. These should be carefully freed from the wound 

 by means of a sponge dipped in a 2 per cent solution of carbolic acid. 

 The sponge should not be brought into actual contact, but should be 

 wrung out just above it, the water being allowed to trickle over the 

 injured part. When the wound and the parts surrounding it have 

 been thoroughly cleansed it may be dressed either with the " white 

 lotion," the formula for which has already been given, or with a solu- 

 tion of chloride of zinc, one ounce to a quart of pure cold water. In 

 cold weather the parts may be dressed with the following: Oxide of 

 zinc ointment, 4 ounces; compound tincture of benzoin, 2 drams; mix, 

 and keep the box covered. 



A single fold of ordinary cotton batting, gently pressed over the oint- 

 ment, will cause it to remain adherent to the wounded part. In super- 

 ficial excoriate! wounds in cattle a very excellent first dressing (after 

 thoroughly cleansing the wound) consists of iodoform (a compound of 

 iodine and chloroform) blown on to the wound through a quill or a folded 

 piece of stiff' paper. This should be followed by a second dressing of 

 pulverized aloes applied in the same way, which not only forms an arti- 

 ficial scab, but possesses the additional advantage of keeping ofl' Hies. 



There are many other applications equally simple and eflieaeious, 

 such as perchloride of morcury, one part to eight hundred of water; 

 boracic acid, one part to twenty parts of water; carbolie acid one part 

 to water thirty parts, but the foregoing will be found as good as any. 



No good purpose can be served by applying to healthy wounds irri- 

 tating mixtures of oils and acids, and an owner may safely make up 

 his mind to the fact that whatever mixture he may use. no matter how 

 successful it may have been, he is pretty sure to luwc a neighbor who 



