WOUNDS. 51 



in various proportions. Tho,se that are at all toxic, such as 

 iodoform, must be used with great caution, as absorption may 

 take place, and particularly if on a part which the animal can 

 reach with its tongue, as poisonous effects are apt to ensue.^ 



For operation wounds, after applying sutures and thoroughly 

 drying with aseptic cotton wool, a useful dressing is formed 

 either by iodoform and collodion (i to 10 or 12), or orthoform 

 and collodion (i to 8 or 10). Both of these mixtures allay 

 irritation and protect the wound effectually for a short time 

 from dust and dirt. 



Moller- recommends a wound gelatine which has the advan- 

 tage of adhering equally well to moist or dry surfaces. It is 

 prepared by soaking ordinary sheet gelatine in sufficient quan- 

 tity of a one per cent, sublimate solution to cover it. After it 



Fig. 23. 

 Insufflator for the application of dry dressings. 



has become quite soft it is melted by gentle heat and a quan- 

 tity of glycerine equal to one-tenth of the dry gelatine added. 

 When required for use it is melted over a slow fire and painted 

 over the wound. 



To prevent the animal from licking the wound an Elizabethan 

 collar (see fig. 70) is very useful. 



The Suturing of Wounds. — Various forms of sutures are used 

 for drawing together the edges of wounds, the two chief 

 divisions being the " interrupted " and the " continuous." 



The principal subdivisions of interrupted sutures suitable for 

 canine work are : simple interrupted, pin, button, or quill sutures, 

 and Lembert's. 



1 " Veterinary Eecord," Stir July 1809. 



- MoUer's "Veterinary Surgery" (Dollar's translation), p. 2. 



