4s VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
eof dressing. The wound, free from infectious germs, was covered 
with material impregnated with an antiseptic, and care was taken to 
prevent the accumulation of the serosity secreted by the wounded 
surfaces. As microbicide agents, Lister used especially phenic acid, and 
in 1 to 20 solution (strong) or 1 to 40 (weak). With the strong solu- 
tion, he disinfected the instruments, the sponges and the region ; 
and, when the operation was concluded, the wound over its whole 
surface. The weak solution was used to wash the hands of the sur- 
geon and assistants, to moisten the sponges and clean them during 
the operation. To prevent the contamination of the wound by 
atmospheric germs during the operation, a ‘‘phenicated cloud” 
(spray), made witha Richardson atomizer or a vapor nebulizer anda 
solution of phenic acid, was thrown over the field of operation. After 
the operation, and before the spray was arrested, as soon as hemo- 
stasis was obtained, by catgut ligatures cut short to the knot, the 
edges of the wound were brought together with sutures of the same 
nature. Drainage tubes were fixed to allow the escape of the 
secreted fluids, and the dressing was applied. : 
The region of operation was first covered with a pro/eciive band of 
silk, very thin, gummed, and impermeable, for the purpose of pre- 
venting the prolonged action upon the wound of the too irritating ~ 
phenol ; above this, phenicated (carbolated) gauze folded in eight 
Aayers, the last two having between them an impermeable cover of 
caoutchouc to prevent the evaporation of the phenol and oblige the 
liquids secreted by the wounds to run through the whole thickness 
of the dressing before reaching the outside. All of these were kept 
in place by bands of carbolated gauze. Since the action of the phe-~ 
nol upon living tissues gives rise to an abundant secretion, the 
dressing ought to be taken off after 24 or 48 hours, the wound exam- 
ined, as also the sutures and the drains ; if necessary, take these off, 
and replace them after a. thorough washing with a solution of phe- 
nic acid, and then a new dressing applied. All of this should be done 
under the spray. Later dressings more or less frequent were made 
with the same care; the wound was looked at only when it became 
painful or when there was a noticeable rise of temperature. Such 
was the method used for wounds in operations made upon tissues 
free from all external contamination. 
For recent traumatic lesions more or less irregular, the application 
of the dressing was preceded by a careful washing made with a con- 
centrated solution of phenic acid (1 to 10). Suppurating wounds required 
a more complicated preparation ; they were first treated with the 
curette, then very carefully washed with a solution of chloride of 
zinc (1 to 10). As the irritating action of the phenol was not to be 
feared, the protective band was dispensed with. 
The Listerian dressing extolled by Championniere and Terrier in. 
