8 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



plunge them in an antiseptic solution, as is frequently done, 

 about a minute before operating is of no value at all, and 

 is apt to bring discredit on principles which, when carried 

 out properly, have been the means of saving many thousands 

 of valuable lives. 



For the antiseptic solutions, trays or dishes made of glass, 

 earthenware, or metal are the best. A clean pie-dish or 

 an enamelled iron bowl can be improvised for the purpose 

 very well. 



The solutions usually chosen are those already mentioned 



I 



i 



p 





Fig. 3. — Instrument Sterilizer. 



when dealing with the preparation of the site of incision ; 

 most of them have some minor disadvantages, although 

 the advantages far outweigh these. For instance, solution 

 of lysol makes the handles slippery to take hold of, and 

 has an astringent effect on some operators' hands. Solu- 

 tions of chinosol, biniodide of mercury, and corrosive sub- 

 limate discolour the steel ; solutions of creolin are opaque 

 and hide the instruments ; and each of them has more 

 or less action upon the edge of the blade. During the 



