266 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



exception that these are made from a stronger muslin. A 

 two-gallon bott!e containing strong muslin bandages and 

 one containing cheese-cloth bandages, each filled with a 

 i-iooo mercuric chloride solution,- are two very valuable 

 and economical items for the veterinary operating room. 



A similar recommendation is made regarding the "bail- 

 ing sponges" used to wipe blood from the wound as the 

 operation proceeds. These objects are capable of infecting 

 every surgical wound, as they generally come mto contact 

 with every part at frequent interva's during the operation. 

 The sponge, from the fact that it is durable and is used over 

 and over, is a very dangerous infection conveyor. No greater 

 mistake can be made than that of using the same sponges 

 for a number of consecutive operations, or to use the same 

 sponges day after day, and week after week, with no greater 

 precaution than that of immersing them in the antiseptic 

 solutions just before the operation. Their physical constitu- 

 tion renders them capable of harboring infectious matter, 

 which, of course, can not be made harmless in a moment. 

 Small pledgets of cotton wrung out dry from i-iooo 

 mercuric chloride solution is always the safer bailing mater- 

 ial. When soaked with blood these are cast aside and new, 

 fresh and clean pledgets substituted. The sponge must be 

 frequently wrung out in the antiseptic solution and this 

 greatly diminishes its potency, as well as infects the solu- 

 tion. 



When sponges must be used, they must be kept like the 

 cheese-cloth and muslin bandage, in a salt-mouth jar con- 

 taining mercuric chloride solution 1-500 or i-iooo ready for 

 use. Small, fine, bleached sponges are selected for this pur- 

 pose, and a quart salt-mouth jar to contain them. 



8. The Patient's Habitat. — The surgical patient, more 

 than any other, requires a clean place of abode, to prevent 

 wound contamination, from lying upon or leaning against 



