726 GENERAL THERAPEUTIC MEASURES 



■woodwork, haymows, etc., is obtainable. In place of this 

 •we may resort to formaldehyde, chlorine or sulphurous acid 

 gas. The walls are finally painted or covered with "white- 

 wash containing 5 per cent, of crude carbolic acid. Healthy 

 animals, which have not been exposed to infection, may 

 now be allowed to return to their disinfected quarters. 



SURGICAL ANTISEPSIS AND ASEPSIS. 



It may be fitting, and not out of place, to briefly outline 

 here the use of antiseptics and asepsis in veterinary surgery. 

 Since the days when Lister introduced antisepsis, surgery 

 has advanced iu a manner which appears, however, like 

 retrogression. It is now conceded that asepsis can be 

 attained more satisfactorily and safely without the general 

 use of antiseptics. For antiseptics, as has been noted, 

 inflict a certain amount of damage upon denuded surfaces, 

 and, in so far, lessen the resistance of the body to the 

 inroads of bacteria. Modern surgery attempts to secure 

 a comparative asepsis by mechanical cleanliness, which is 

 more efficient, simpler, and harmless to the body. Antisep- 

 tics are indicated to assist asepsis in the toilet of the 

 unbroken skin, and when sepsis has already occurred, or is 

 unavoidable. The gross neglect of aseptic precautions, often 

 seen in the operations of veterinary surgery, would be con- 

 sidered criminal practice in human surgery. 



Asepsis is, nevertheless, very difficult to secure in the 

 lower animals living among filthy surroundings and lying on 

 fsecal discharges. In addition to these disadvantages, the 

 trouble of controlling animal-movements during operation, 

 and of keeping dressings in place, make the attainment 

 of asepsis embarrassing and frequently impossible. 

 The more common administration of anaesthetics would 

 facilitate asepsis by preventing movements of the patient 

 and contact of the operative field with dirt. 



But there are all degrees of infection, and while, with 

 the best methods of securing cleanliness at our command, it 

 is impossible to completely sterilize normal skin and 



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