162 SPRINGTIME SURGERY 



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- 

 tions. In ordinary persons this odor is sulphur- 

 ous, especially so in red-haired and freckled indi- 

 viduals; brunettes possess a prussic-acid and 

 blondes a feeble musk odor; fat persons have a 

 more pronounced odor than lean ones, the former 

 frequently having an oily odor due to excessive 

 fatty acids in the sebaceous secretions. Race, sex, 

 age, personal cleanliness and complicating skin 

 diseases also influence the odors of wounds. 



Various foods and some medicines taken inter- 

 nally impart odors to the skin secretions which 

 may modify the normal wound odors, and local 

 applications to the seat of injury may be expected 

 to do so. 



A recent undressed wound presents the odor of 

 fresh blood, which, if there be union by first in- 

 tention, gives way to that of the dressings ap- 

 plied. A wound bathed in pus from healthy gran- 

 ulations gives a characteristic odor which is not 



