PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 267 



infected objects. It should in addition be kept comparatively 

 free from dust or currents of air capable of conveying infec- 

 tious matter to the wound; The soil of the pasture or the 

 floor of the stable may convey tetanic infection into an un- 

 protected wound. Whole herds of recently spayed hiefers, 

 and whole droves of recently castrated pigs have sustained 

 serious wound infections from having been placed into germ- 

 ridden habitats. The sheep-pen often infects a large per- 

 centage of castrated lambs, and the stall litter may readily 

 cause a fatal septic peritonitis in the castrated horse. Not 

 only the wound of castration, but any wound, may thus be 

 contaminated. The sensible recommendation in this connec- 

 tion must emanate from an accurate knowledge of bacteria, 

 especially in regard to their extraneous behavior. The 

 greatest danger is found in the crowded environment, kept 

 none too clean, the grassless paddock containing dust and 

 animal excrement, the manure heap, the crowded pasture in 

 dry seasons, and pastures harboring such micro-organisms 

 as the bacillus tetanus, the bacillus anthracis, the bacillus 

 anthracis symptomatici, etc. There is little fear in the clean 

 stable or in the veterinary hospital where the value of intel- 

 ligent disinfection is constantly respected. 



THE ROUTINE OF WOUND TREATMENT. 



A special, regular and methodical curriculum must be 

 followed in the treatment of every wound. There must be 

 no variation, except in the detailed execution of each step. 

 The order is as follows : — 



1. The examination. 



2. The surgical treatment proper. 



(a) The dissection, resection, etc. 



(b) The haemostasis. 



(c) The sterilization. 



3. Closure and drainage. 



4. Protection and after-care. 



