102 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



first place amongst veterinary suture materials. Its tensile 

 strength, its flexibility, its softness and its durability amply 

 fill each essential characteristic. However, when small 

 threads are needed it may be found too large, even in its 

 smallest sizes, and its high cost is no small item when pro- 

 miscuously used in a large practice. 



Twisted silk, has all the properties of the braided variety 

 except that of strength, and may be adopted as its universal 

 substitute where the use of a small thread is desirable. It is 

 slightly absorbable and may, as a consequence of this prop- 

 erty, be adopted for buried sutures when in einergencies the 

 more appropriate absorbable thread (cat-gut) is not avail- 

 able. Its absorption is, however, too slow for general. use as 

 buried sutures. 



•Catgut, in veterinary operations, is used only when an 



Fig. 49— Half Curved Needles. 



Fig. SO— Straight Needle. 



absorbable material is required. It is the standard absorb- 

 able material for all kinds of buried sutures. By treating it 

 with chromic acid by special processes its absorbable proper- 

 ties are lessened to definite degrees. It will absorb, accord- 

 ing as it has been chromatized, in one week, two weeks, three 

 weeks, etc., which property is indispensable where there is 

 danger that the rapid absorption of the non-chromatized va- 

 riety might precede the safe union of the sutured edges. ■ 



Linen thread, although possessing no property superior 

 to silks, is easily the most suitable suture material on account 

 of its cheapness. Its tensile strength, durability and facil- 

 ity of sterilization, together with its inexpensiveness, at once 

 suggests its universal fitness for nearly every surgical opera- 

 tion performed upon animals. The yellow variety of Bar- 

 bour's Irish Linen Saddler's Thread has especial value ,from 

 every standpoint. Although only one size is obtainable, the 



