TREATMENT OF INJURED HAND 16 



will discover the foreign body more readily thai 

 a rough examination or probing with a metallii 

 probe. 



In searching for deeply imbedded foreigi 

 bodies, use the probe as little as possible. If th( 

 body be a bullet, needle or other metallic substance 

 use the x-ray. The indiscriminate use of th< 

 probe in bullet wounds, fractures, necroses, sin 

 uses, etc., cannot be too strongly condemned 

 Modem methods are so much more superior, defi' 

 nite and less dangerous that the probe has beei 

 to a large extent rendered obsolete and should 

 only be resorted to when other methods are no1 

 at command. 



The tactile sense should easily detect fractures 

 and dislocations if the parts be not swollen toe 

 much, and in open wounds of joints should be abk 

 to determine the condition of the cartilage sur- 

 faces. Should it be necessary to use instruments 

 in examining a wound, they should be sterilized. 



The Sense of Smell. — The sense , of smell is 

 of much assistance in determining the condition 

 of wounds, as all emit characteristic odors of 

 fresh blood, "healthy" pus, tissue necrosis, etc.. 



