TREATMENT OF INJURED HAND 159 



that this agent is for the use of surgeons and not 

 of the laity, that the latter have no business with 

 it, and that in the hands of a competent surgeon 

 it is as safe as an amputating knife or other in- 

 strument. 



In cleansing the parts around a wound it is 

 sometimes desirable to use soap, and I have 

 found "mechanics* soap," a coconut-oil soap plus 

 fine sand, or rather stone, as good as any of the 

 higher-priced antiseptic soaps. If desirable, an 

 antiseptic solution may be used as a rinsing appli- 

 cation after the soap. 



Hydrogen peroxide I do not often use in pri- 

 mary cleansings, since little difficulty has ever 

 been experienced by using the methods just de- 

 scribed. Before attempting to cleanse a wound 

 always apply a tourniquet to prevent further 

 bleeding. 



Examination of Injuries. — Having cleansed 

 the wound of all extraneous matters, the surgeon 

 should see to it that his own hands are again ren- 

 dered surgically clean, after which he may pro- 

 ceed to examine into the nature and extent of the 

 injuries. 



