64 ANTISEPTIC TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. 
solution before putting them on, it is not exactly proper to 
call such a bandage “dry,” but-it should be remembered that 
such bandages dry very fast, so that, although moistened, 
they very soon dry by evaporation. The causes which compel 
us to proceed thus, when a dry occlusive bandage is put on, 
are as follows: 
(a) If we put the bandaging material on dry, it does not fit 
tightly to the shape of the body, thus forming dead space (cav- 
ities) in the bandage,.which frequently are the cause of accu- 
mulation and decomposition of the exudation, and the loosen- 
ing of the bandage. 
(b) Furthermore, this preliminary soaking is necessary be- 
cause, on account of its cheapness, I procure bandaging ma- 
terial which is not disinfected, and I disinfect it myself in this 
way. 
(c) Besides, dry bandaging material absorbs the exudation 
poorly, and, if the exudation formed soon after putting on 
the bandage is not carried into the deeper layers of the 
bandage, it dries up in the immediate vicinity of the wound 
and makes the bandage unfit for absorbing more. 
(d) In our domesticated animals it is essential that the band- 
age should be put on rather tight, as, on account of the rest- 
lessness of the patient, the bandage usually pets somewhat 
loosened. By all means we should not forget that excessive 
pressure on a part of the bandage may easily cause bandage 
necrosis. I found that this moistening of the bandaging ma- 
terial before putting it on is of the greatest help in maintain- 
ing it. Ifthe band that holds the bandage on is drawn close, 
the band after the bandage has dried up gets longer so that 
the bandage will be somewhat loose. While the bandaging 
material dries tip and at the same time expands, it provides 
for the filling of the space between the body and the band, and 
a sufficiently tight hold. 
Finally, the question as to how long such a bandage should 
be allowed to remain unmolested must be considered: 
The advantage lies in the fact that a daily cleansing and 
treatment of the wound, which in the preantiseptic era was 
