EXAMINATION OF WOUNDS. 75 
VIII. EXAMINATION OF WOUNDS AND THEIR 
PREPARATION FOR OPERATION. 
As the proper treatment of a wound cannot be carried on 
without a thorough knowledge of its nature and the conditions 
present, the first stipulation is a thorough examination. Very 
frequently we are compelled to go at this examination manu- 
ally, that is to use instruments (probes) for the purpose; in 
every instance danger of infection during examination is pres- 
ent, our hands, vicinity of the wound, and instruments being 
carriers of infection, as already referred to above. It should, 
therefore, be made a rule, that in examining wounds a direct 
contact with them should.be avoided as much as possible and 
only with certain precaution should a manual examination 
or one with the aid of instruments be undertaken. I proceed, 
therefore, in examining wounds, considering the rules of anti- 
septics, as follows: 
If the condition of a wound (depth, length, affected tis- 
sues, possible foreign bodies, character of the wound surface, 
the discharge, vicinity) can be sufficiently recognized and 
judged by mere inspection, I do not-touch the wound, and 
therefore obviate the use of special antiseptic precautions in 
the examination. 
When a manual or’ instrumental examination is necessary, 
I prepare by dissolving one sublimate pastille in one-half pint 
of water a sublimate solution (the best way is in.a clean wash 
bowl), disinfect the hands in same, after their having been 
washed clean with water and also dip the instruments in the 
same solution, and then thoroughly clean the vicinity of the 
wound. 
The hair, with the dirt and discharges, is trimmed short, to 
about 5 cm. from the edge of the wound, and eventually with 
