PENETRANT ABDOMINAL WOUNDS 



489 



wounding object or by external exposure to filth and bruises, 

 and also upon the promptness of the treatment. 



TREATMENT. — As a patient soon develops a fatal 

 state of shock delay in reaching the scene and in promptly 

 administering relief adds materially in the poor success 

 usually met in the treatment of such injuries. To end suc- 

 cessfully the treatment must be prompt. The "first aid" is 

 important. If the prolapsing intestines were promptly sup- 



Fig. 247 — A Penetrant Abdominal Wound Safely Healed. 



ported with a clean wrap pending the arrival of the surgeon 

 and the conditions met upon arrival were favorable to the 

 performance of an abdominal operation, many of these ap- 

 parently hopeless cases could be successfully treated. On 

 the farm, and in the city stable, it is seldom possible for the 

 surgeon to hurriedly surround himself with conditions upon 

 which successful intervention would depend. Much the 

 best management consists of flushing the wound, its sur- 



