DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS 619 



by the application of tannin, silver nitrate sticlc, or 10 per cent, formalin; 

 or the wound may be kept covered witli an ointment of 10 per cent, boric 

 acid in vaseline. Sometimes, if one trims off all septic tissue and disinfects 

 the wound with tincture of iodine, or pure carbolic acid, followed by 

 alcohol and free irrigation with 2 per cent, lysol solution, it may be possible 

 to secure first intention by suture of an old wound. In veterinary practice, 

 asepsis is difficult to obtain, as the application and retention of bandages, 

 the attainment of rest of a part by position and splint, and a pure atmos- 

 phere and premises, are often unattainable. But when possible, particularly 

 in canine practice, the methods of human surgery should be closely fol- 

 lowed. If a fresh wound is much soiled, it may be treated with pure 

 tincture of iodine, as above. 



Perforating Wounds of the Abdomen — The surrounding region should be 

 prepared by shaving and disinfection of the skin, as described for operative 

 wounds. If there is protrusion of the viscera, it should be protected mean- 

 while by a covering of sterile gauze wrung out in hot water. If omentum 

 prolapse, it should be ligated and excised. If there is a protrusion of bowel, 

 it must be cleansed by the most painstaking and prolonged irrigation with 

 warm (110 deg. F.) sterile normal salt solution (1 teaspoonful of sodium 

 chloride to the pint of boiled water), and then returned into the belly. The 

 abdominal wall should be closed in layers with buried sterile, chromic or 

 tannated catgut; the skin may be approximated by interrupted silkworm 

 gut sutures, while sutures of silkworm gut should be placed through all 

 layers — except the peritoneum — at several points, to reinforce the catgut 

 and prevent hernia. The wound may be sealed with iodoform and coUodion 

 (1 to 8) and covered with dry aseptic gauze held in place by adhesive 

 plaster and bandage. 



Punctured Wounds — Hemorrhage may be arrested by pressure of an 

 aseptic tampon of gauze, after the external wound has been shaved and thor- 

 oughly disinfected with tincture of iodine. If signs of local inflammation 

 and infection occur, then one must incise the wound down to its lowest point 

 and drain. 



Gunshot Wounds — The chief indication is to disinfect thoroughly the 

 wound of entrance with tincture of iodine and cover with a dry, sterile, 

 gauze dressing and bandage, and enforce rest so far as possible. Do not 

 probe or try to remove the buUet unless it is subcutaneous. If local and 

 general infection ensue, then incision becomes necessary to afford drainage, 

 but not for the purpose of discovering the missile. 



Joint Wounds — Here application of tincture of iodine to the wound and 

 surrounding skin with immediate sealing of the wound with iodoform and 

 collodion (1 to 8), actual cautery, or suture, and the application of splints, 

 antiseptic dressing, and bandaging, are indicated. 



See also Ulcers, Open Joints, Bites and Babies. 



The following agents are used in the treatment of wounds, and their indi- 

 cations may be found by consulting the index for their names: Dichlora- 

 mine-T, chlorazene, hydrogen dioxide, lime and charcoal, alum, silver nitrate, 

 potassium permanganate, mercuric oxides, corrosive sublimate, resin, naphtha- 

 lin, chloral, chlorinated soda, chlorinated lime, iodoform, iodol, aristol, acetan- 

 llid, bismuth, salol, boric acid, sulphurous acid, nitric acid, charcoal, carbolic 

 acid, creosote, creolin, lysol, formalin, glutol, vaseline, salicylic acid, 

 tar, balsam of Peru, benzoin, myrrh, eucalyptol, zinc sulphate, conium, 

 laudanum, oU of turpentine, camphor, thymol, hydrastis, tincture of aloes 

 and myrrh, coUodion, glycerite of tannin, cantharides, antiseptic poultices. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



