GENERAL TREATMENT. 71 



borate antiseptic precautions which I have detailed in the preceding 

 paragraphs, to content ourselves by doing the best we can. If it 

 be not practicable to cover over and bandage the wound, we may 

 apply dry tannoform or iodoform; dry boric acid; eucalyptus oil 

 in which as much iodoform as it will take up, has been dissolved ; 

 plain eucalyi^tus oil; or burnt alum. If the wound continues 

 healthy and dry, it should not be interfered with; but if matter 

 (pus) forms, it should be washed two or three times a day and an 

 antiseptic put on. My own practice in such cases, is twice or thrice 

 a day, to wash away the pus with warm water and a syringe, 

 and when the wound is clean, or as clean as I can get it, to wash 

 it over Avith a solution of carbolic acid, creolin or chinosol (in 

 the respective strengths mentioned on page 67); finally to apply 

 a dry dressing of tannoform, or a saturated solution of iodoform in 

 eucalyptus oil. 



Supposing that after the operation the animal has to be " turned 

 out " without further treatment, I would recommend, agreeably 

 to Lister's advice, that the wound should be mopped over with a 

 solution of chloride of zinc (40 grains to the ounce of water), and, 

 if circumstances permitted, covered over with tannoform. If, owing 

 to the position of the part, the tannoform could not be used in a 

 dry state, w^e might apply a saturated solution of it in methylated 

 spirits. 



In the event of our having none of the foregoing chemicals at 

 hand, we might clean our instruments by scrubbing them with a 

 nail brush, and keeping them in boiling water for five minutes. 

 Water which had been boiled, and then allowed to cool, might 

 be used to wash the part before employing the knife, after 

 cleaning the part with soap and Avarm w^ater. The hands could 

 be cleansed in the same manner. The addition of a teaspoonful of 

 common salt to each pint of water, will cause that fluid to acquire 

 slight, though appreciable antiseptic properties. The towels and 

 cotton cloths, after having been washed, might be soaked in boiled 

 water, taken out and dried in the air, and the wound might be dusted 

 over with burnt alum or sulphur, if no more effective antiseptic be at 

 hand. 



General Treatment of Wounds. 



1. STOP THE BLEEDING.— There is rarely much difficulty in 

 doing this, if the bleeding be only from veins ; water at a tempera- 

 ture of from 120° to 125° F., slight pressure, or the application of 

 ice or snow being generally suflicient. We can know that an artery 

 is cut, by the bright red colour of the blood, and by the manner in 

 which it jets out. We should try to pick up the end of it nearest 



