4 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



chinosol (i in i,ooo to i in 500), boracic acid (5 to 10 grains 

 to the ounce), and biniodide of mercury (i in 1,000 solution, 

 being aided b}' the addition of a little more than an equal 

 amount of potassium iodide). 



Of these, boracic acid is particularl}' selected for wounds 

 on the cornea of the eye ; solutions of carbolic acid, lysol, 

 creolin, and perchloride of mercur}-, must be used with the 

 greatest care when operating on small dogs or cats, as toxic 

 symptoms sometimes ensue even when these drugs are 

 applied only to a small area.-' 



As an illustration of this the following case is worth remark. The 

 patient, a female cat in an emaciated condition, was placed on the 

 operating-table for laparotomy, the object being to remo\e a cork which 

 could be distinctly felt to be present in the intestine. A 5 per cent, 

 solution of carbolic acid was used to disinfect the site of operation after 

 the hair had been shaved off, and also for the instruments. A little was 

 also used to wipe the edges of the bowel wound and to disinfect the 

 peritoneum in one place where it became soiled. The solution was, how- 

 ever, used sparingly, but before the operation was completed symptoms 

 of carbolic acid poisoning had commenced, the voluntary muscular 

 system was twitching violently, and the temperature became subnormal. 

 Antidotal measures were adopted, but within two hours after the comple- 

 tion of the operation the patient was dead. 



Solution of biniodide of mercury has advantages over that 

 of the perchloride, in that no precipitate is formed when it 

 becomes mixed with blood, and it does not combine with 

 albumin. Many of these antiseptics can now be purchased 

 in the convenient form of tabloids, tablets, or soloids, one 

 of which dissolved in a certain quantity (usually a pint or 

 a quart) makes a lotion of the requisite strength in a few 

 moments. 



After trials of various antiseptics, those usually chosen 

 by the author have been ether soap and creolin for the 

 operator's hands and the preliminary washing of the patient, 

 and chinosol for the final cleansing. 



' Jotiriial of Comparative PatJiology ami Therapeutics, vol. x., p. 361 • 

 idem, vol. ix., p. i. 



