274 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



in animals where the part cannot be perfectly immobilized. 

 On the forehead, on the anterior surface of the face, on the 

 back or on the croup or in certani parts of the legs, sutured 

 wounds generally heal without separating, but in all other 

 parts of the body the sutures often fail to accomplish the 

 intended purpose, on account of the unavoidable friction be- 

 tween the edges caused by the animal's movements. The 

 movements may be trivial, but they are generally sufiQcient 

 to disturb the first agglutination that must precede the for- 

 mation of the more stable reuniting tissue. In order to pre- 

 vent this friction as much as possible it is necessary to ap- 

 ply two separate sets of sutures; a set of immobilizing sut- 

 ures inserted some distance from each edge, and a set of 

 uniting sutures applied to the edges of the wound. The 

 first set may be of the interrupted button variety, and the 

 second common interrupted stitches. The first creates an 

 immobile area; that is, the whole area moves as a single 

 body, and thus prevents the friction. In other instances 

 (on the legs) the immobilization can be accomplished by 

 bandaging, and in still others (on the body) by the applica- 

 tion of a large and thick plastic dressing. 



The drainage is accomplished by gravity, by irrigation, 

 and by absorption. Gravity drainage is always provided 

 when possible, and it may also be facilitated by irrigation. 



Drainage tubes are very seldom used in veterinary 

 surgery. They are replaced by wadding the opening with 

 cotton or gauze for a few days until a wide orifice is estab- 

 Hshed. Irrigation and absorption are used simultaneously 

 in all wounds that harbor secretion by reason of their phys- 

 ical constitution. Antiseptic solutions are used for the irriga- 

 tion a.nd antiseptic powders or antiseptic fabrics for the 

 packing. The ideal condition to obtain and to maintain in 

 any wound is dryness. As the secretions diminish from the 



