ANTISEPTIC MODE OF TREATING WOUNDS. 65 
considered necessary, is superfluous. -The endeavor of every 
surgeon is, if possible, to bring about the healing of the wound 
under one ‘bandage; however, a change of bandage is indis- 
pensable in certain cases, and therefore a minute knowledge 
of all the circumstances which make such change necessary 
is required. 
Though we could easily ascertain. how the wound is pro- 
gressing by taking off the bandage, we would at the same time 
expose the wound to new dangers. Therefore, we have to be 
on the lookout, as in internal diseases, for symptoms, which 
tell us what takes place under the bandage. Though these 
symptoms are not as numerous as they are in internal dis- 
eases, it takes practice to decide from them whether the band- 
age should be changed or not. 
LISTER, by his bi-chloride of mercury bandage, as pre- 
viously mentioned, attempted to use the bandage itself as a 
reagent for the procedures of the wound; but this does not 
seems to me to completely solve the question, as- wound exu- 
dations, especially pus, produce the necessary discoloration 
only, if they soak through-the bandage. We do not there- 
fore obtain any disclosure as to the condition of the wound 
unless the exudation is abundant. 
One of the most important symptoms for determining the 
processes going on in the wound is undoubtedly the tempera- 
ture of the body. Every rise in body temperature during the 
healing of a wound, is, if no other illness is present, due to 
some abnormal action in the wound. To avoid mistakes, we 
certainly must, in accordance with VOLKMANN and 
GENZMER’S theory, strictly draw the line between septic 
and antiseptic fever. These authors frequently call our atten- 
tion to the fact that frequently high fever up to 41° C. occurs 
in patients with a completely aseptic healing of the wound, 
and that the patients alluded to did not show signs of any con- 
stitutional disorder. This aseptic fever is of no importance in 
healing wounds, and the question arises, how are these two 
styles of traumatic fever distinguished from each other? As 
already mentioned, aseptic fever consists chiefly of a rise in 
