54 



CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



suture itself. The knot maj- be left directh' in the centre, 

 or, ^\•hat is probably a better plan, because it causes less 

 irritation, pulled to one side. When the loose ends fall in 

 the same line as the ^^ound and at right angles to the suture, 

 the knot is apt to slip or give way ; this is termed a ' granny ' 

 knot (see Fig. 31). 



Simple interrupted sutures are suitable for man}- kinds of 

 surgical work, and should be inserted from a quarter to half 

 an inch apart. 



Pin sutures are not so commonl)- used in the surgery of 

 the dog and cat as in that of the larger animals. They cause 

 irritation, and are too easih' removed b}' the teeth or claws, 

 lea^■ing the edges of the wound lacerated and torn. They 

 are made b}' passing clean pins through 

 the two edges of the wound, and after- 

 ^\•ard twisting aseptic silk, tow, hair, or 

 some such material, over the pin in a 

 figure-of-eight fashion. The\' should not 

 be inserted quite so close to one another 

 as in the case of ordinar}- interrupted 

 sutures. 



Button sutures are particularly useful 

 for large wounds, where the edges are thin and apt to tear 

 awa)-. In making them, button-shaped pieces of bone metal 

 (or some such hard, easil}- cleansed material) are used, the 

 suture being passed through the edges of the wound, then 

 through a hole in the button on the opposite side, and fastened 

 in some way suitable to the particular pattern used. 



Quill sutures are similar in principle to button sutures, 

 with the exception that an ordinary quill or piece of wood of 

 that shape is fixed on either side of the edges of the wound 

 by the silk or thread. They are suitable for similar wounds to 

 those in \\hich the button suture is applicable. 



Lembert's sutures (see Fig. 33) are used when suturing 

 the stomach, intestine, bladder, or uterus. They are made 



Fig. 32. — Aluminium 

 Suture Button 

 (Pugh's). 



