CHAPTER V. 



THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. 



General Remarks; Methods of Allaying Haemorrhage.— 



In the dog and cat wounds, as a rule, heal very well when 

 properly attended to, and the animal is prevented from causing 

 undue irritation by constant licking. In the cat, particularly, 

 this licking of the wound is often a source of trouble, and greatly 

 retards healing, owing to the roughness of the tongue. The 

 chief principles to observe are those of thorough cleanliness, the 

 application as often as necessary of some antiseptic dressing, 

 and the avoidance of all sources of irritation. 



The hair at the edges of a wound should always be removed 

 either by being clipped close with scissors or, better still, by 

 shaving ; the wound and its surroundings being thoroughly 

 cleansed with soap and water, and dressed with antiseptics. 



If freshly made all blood clots and foreign bodies should 

 be removed from between the edges, the latter being drawn 

 together by sutures, and then bandaged or not at the discretion 

 of the surgeon. 



Haemorrhage is arrested by means of pressure applied above 



or immediately around the bleeding part ; this can be done by 



the aid of a tourniquet made of tape or elastic. The cut ends 



of the vessels are then sought for and secured by artery forceps, 



of which there are several patterns in common use. In extreme 



cases it may even be necessary to cut down upon the vessel 



above the original wound and here ligature it. 



When secured, the forceps are left on for some little time, or 



D 



