110 



VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



on the same needle, may be placed and tied without being 

 exposed to contamination. 



5. To assure absolute asepsis in placing a stitch or two 

 the following technique, is excellent: Place a strand of 

 thread long enough for one stitch and threaded with a needle 

 at each end, into the sterilizer; or in lieu of a sterilizer thread 

 a strand of previously sterilized thread with a sterilized 

 needle at each end; then, when the aseptic wound (a neu- 

 rotomy incision, e. g.) is ready to be closed, pick up one 

 needle with the' thumb forcep, place it between the jaws of 

 the needle holder and push it through the skin from within 



Fig. 64— Quilled and Continuous Suture and Drainage Tube. 



outward and then take up the other needle in the same way 

 and push it through the opposite edge also from within out- 

 ward. In this manner the absolutely sterilized needles and 

 absolutely sterilized thread are not manually soiled and- no 

 microbes have been drawn into the wound from the surface 

 layers of the skin which (the reader might be reminded) is 

 never absolutely aseptic. The only chance of infecting the 

 stitch is while tying, but as the parts handled remain externa! 

 there is no danger of infection therefrom. 



6. The impossibility to control every movement of 

 wounded animals or of any part of their bodies, works to the 

 disadvantage of sutured wounds. The friction between the 



