TREATMENT OF INJURED HAND 161 



body be a bullet, needle or other metallic substance, 

 use the x-ray. The indiscriminate use of the 

 probe in bullet wounds, fractures, necroses, sin- 

 uses, etc., cannot be too strongly condemned. 

 Modern methods are so much more superior, defi- 

 nite and less dangerous that the probe has been 

 to a large extent rendered obsolete and should 

 only be resorted to when other methods are not 

 at command. 



The tactile sense should easily detect fractures 

 and dislocations if the parts be not swollen too 

 much, and in open wounds of joints should be able 

 to determine the condition of the cartilage sur- 

 faces. Should it be necessary to use instruments 

 in examining a wound, they should be sterilized. 



The Sense of Smell. — The sense of smell is 

 of much assistance in determining the condition 

 of wounds, as all emit characteristic odors of 

 fresh blood, "healthy" pus, tissue necrosis, etc., 

 according to their age, stage of healing, infections 

 and dressings. 



The odors given forth by wounds may be more 

 or less modified by those natural to the body, due 

 to the perspiration and other cutaneous secre- 



