WOUNDS. 429 
wound. There is a hole near the point of the needle; through this 
opening a piece of strong twine or narrow tape is threaded; when, the 
instrument being withdrawn, the twine or tape is pulled into the punc- 
ture which has been made. The needle is then released, the suture being 
left in. 
So many sutures as may be necessary are thus inserted —in small 
wounds, these being about two inches asunder, but in larger injuries, 
THE MANNER OF USING THE FIXED SETON NEEDLE. 
A second person pushes the wound together, and, when the point of the needle appears, threads it with 
a piece of zinc wire or soft string. The needle is then retracted, and released from the wire or string, 
whereby a suture is left in the wound. 
three inches apart. All are duly placed before any are tied; the whole 
being ready, the wound is forced together by an assistant, while the 
strings are fastened—care being exercised 
not to bring any of them actually tight, 
lest the motion of the body or the swelling 
of the part should drag the sutures through 
the flesh and thereby tear them out. 
A wound thus united may possibly heal DIAGRAM OF SUTURES WHEN TIED AND 
by first intention, or the divided parts, when cere 
brought together, may join, and give no further trouble to the surgical 
attendant. 
Union by first intention is, however, somewhat rare in the horse; and 
should not that take place, suppuration will be established. So soon as 
the pus flows freely forth, and the sutures appear to tighten or drag, cut 
them out by snipping the twine; but allow the strings to loosen before 
you attempt their withdrawal. 
If this is not done, the sutures will speedily find an exit for themselves 
by causing the flesh against which the tension acts to be absorbed ; thus 
the original injury will be rendered more complicated, and the ultimate 
blemish must be altogether greater. 
All that is required after the establishment of suppuration is to bathe 
