WOUNDS AND WOUND INFECTIONS 167 



of blood may be found in wounds. Unless all foreign and dead 

 matter is removed it will be impossible to get permanent healing. 



Dressing wounds is an art. Under this head are included the 

 cleansing, suturing, and bandaging of wounds. A 3 per cent, solu- 

 tion of carbolic acid in soft water is a reliable cleansing agent and 

 possesses antiseptic properties. It may be applied with a small 

 syringe or by moistening pledgets of absorbent cotton. 



By suturing is meant the sewing together of the wound edges. 

 It is necessary where there is much gaping. For this purpose heavy 

 silk is used when it is available. In an emergency heavy hnen 

 thread, or common white twine and a darning needle, may be used. 

 Whatever material is employed must be boiled or soaked in a strong 

 disinfectant solution to render it sterile. The stitches are to be 

 taken a considerable distance from the margins of the wound in 

 order to prevent tearing. Do not draw the stitches too tightly 



Fig. 47. — The surgeon's knot. 



or the swelling, which always follows, will cause them to tear out. 

 The surgeon's knot (Fig. 47) is employed to tie the ends together. 

 Stitching is contra-indicated where much pus is apt to form. 



Bandages to protect against infection and injury are helpful 

 in operation wounds and wounds near the feet where filth is apt to 

 enter. Many wounds, especially barbed-wire cuts, heal better 

 without bandaging. Bandages and other dressings must be changed 

 as soon as they become saturated with the wound secretions. 

 At this time the wound is cleansed with an antiseptic solution. 

 The surface of the wound should be sopped instead of rubbed, to 

 avoid irritation and injury to the newly formed granulation tissue. 

 A dusting-powder, composed of iodoform or boric acid, or equal 

 parts of iodoform, boric acid, and tannic acid, may be sifted .on to 

 the wound to check secretions and promote heahng. If pus has a 

 tendency to collect in pockets, these should be swabbed out daily 

 or opened so as to allow free drainage. 



