70 WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 



is to get the best possible result. Even if the antiseptic or anti- 

 septics do not completely succeed, they will certainly induce the 

 wound to heal quicker and in a more healthy manner than if they 

 had not been employed. 



When carrying out the usual routine of' strict antiseptic precautions in an 

 operation, we begin, after having put on a clean linen overall, by washing 

 the skin that covers the part in which the incision is to be made, with 

 warm water and carbolic or other antiseptic soap ; keep applied to it for 

 about five minutes before the operation, a solution of carbolic acid (1 to 20 

 of water) ; and thoroughly wash — ^using warm water, soap, and a nail-brush — 

 the instruments to be used, and keep them in a similar carbolic solution 

 for at least five minutes before they are required. The operator's hands 

 (particular care being taken to clean the nails) should be also disinfected 

 with warm water, soap, nail-brush, and carbolic solution. Before making 

 surgical wounds, the hair should be shaved off, and the skin of the part 

 carefully disinfected ; for the glands of the skin and hair follicles form nests 

 for bacteria, which obtain a protective covering from the greasy matter of 

 the skin. Besides using soap and washing soda to remove this fat, we 

 might eliminate any remaining particles of it by the application of ether. 

 While performing the operation, the instruments and operator's hands (both 

 having been purified in the manner just described) should not be allowed 

 t5 touch any oibject which had not been equally well disinfected. The 

 hands, if necessary, may be dried with antiseptic cotton-wool, and the 

 instruments laid out on a thick and folded towel which has been boiled 

 in water and soaked in a 1 to 20 carbolic solution. The use of sponges 

 is not advisable in veterinary surgery, for they are diflGlcult to keep clean. 

 If they be employed, they should be previously washed with washing soda, 

 and kept in a 1 to 20 carbolic acid solution. Antiseptic cotton-wool can 

 be used instead of a sponge, and is easier to keep clean. If it be required, 

 it should be kept in the carbolic solution, and after it has been employed 

 it may be thrown away. 



The easiest way to disinfect instruments, supposing that they have metal 

 handles, is to put them into boiling water for a)bout five minutes, after 

 having cleaned them. 



To arrest bleeding we may proceed as directed on pages 71 and 72. Any 

 ligatures used in tymg cut arteries should be of prepared catgut, silk thread 

 or horseha,ir. The two last mentioned should be steeped for some time in 

 the carbolic acid solution before being employed. To stop oozing of blood 

 in a, wound, we can use pressure with a pad of antiseptic cotton-wool. Or 

 we may apply water at a temperature of from 120° to 125° F. (p. 65). If 

 the oozing continues, we should let the wound dry before closing it up. 

 After the wound has ceased bleeding, it may be washed with carbolic 

 solution and then covered up with tannoform or iodoform. We may place 

 over this eight or nine layers of clean, soft cotton cloth which has, if 

 possible, been previously boiled, soaked in the carbolic solution, and slightly 

 wrung out, so as to deprive it of an excess of moisture. As carbolic acid 

 IS volatile, the wbole should be covered over with mackintosh, or with 

 gutta-percha tissue prepared for the purpose. For human practice. Lister 

 recommends the double cya,nide of mercury and zinc instead of iodoform 

 and as a covering, takes, say, 6 ya/rds of unprepared absorbent gauze (to be 

 obtained from any chemist), folds it lengthwise in eight layers, and soaks 

 it thoroughly m carbolic solution, after having dusted dyed double cyanide 

 of mercury and zinc over one of the centre pieces of the gauze He then 

 rolls up the eight layers of gauze together, and kneads them with the 

 fingers for a minute or two, so as to diflFuse the salt (to an amount of about 

 i oz.) throughout the mass, as will be shown by the colour. This speciallv 

 prepared dye causes the cyanide to adhere to the fabric. 



