TREATMENT BEFORE AND AFTER OPERATION 3 



rendered surgically clean. It is only by this method that 

 one can hope to get an uninterrupted series of successful 

 results. 



All hair from the site of operation and the contiguous parts 

 should be removed a short time before operating, by the aid 

 of scissors or clipping machines and a razor, the skin being 

 thoroughly scrubbed for fully two minutes with soap and 

 hot water containing some disinfectant, then again for two 

 minutes with ether, spirit, or ether soap to remove all grease 

 and sebaceous material, and afterwards swabbed with an 

 antiseptic of reliable strength. Turpentine, which is some- 

 times used in human surgery, is not permissible, as it acts as 

 a violent irritant to the skin of the dog and cat. A pad of 

 Vv'adding soaked in some antiseptic, and carefully kept in 

 position over the site for an hour before the operation com- 

 mences, completes the process by which the parts are rendered 

 surgically clean. 



If a preliminary dressing cannot be applied, owing to the 

 situation of the wound, the temper of the animal, or some 

 other cause, the antiseptic chosen and the cleansing process 

 must be applied with extra thoroughness and care at the time 

 of operating. The use of the razor is absolutely essential to bring 

 about a continuous series of primary wojind unions without pus 

 formation. This primary union can, however, be assured in more 

 than go per cent, of cases if only the operator ivill take the care 

 to be surgically clean. This statement is based upon the 

 results of careful records taken upon more than a thousand 

 wounds m veterinary patients.^ 



The choice of an antiseptic must rest with the operator. 

 Probably those which are in most common and general use 

 for surgical purposes are solutions of carbolic acid, lysol, 

 creoHn (each of which is used in from i to 2 per cent, 

 solutions with water), corrosive subhmate (i in 1,000 parts), 



1 Veterinary Record, vol. xv., p. 685. (Proceedings of the Central 

 Veterinary Medical Society.) 



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