ANTISEPTICS— PAST AND PRESENT 47 



nerve and excises tlie desired portion with little or no 

 damage to the surrounding tissues. On the other hand, 

 an inexpert operator, in his efforts to expose the nerve, 

 disorganizes the tissues to a considerable extent. In 

 the former case the wound heals by first intention; in 

 the latter, even with all attempts at asepsis and antisep- 

 sis, healing occurs by granulation often accompanied by 

 suppuration. 



The next point is with reference to drainage. Now 

 in all wounds of any extent an exudation of serum 

 occurs, generally referred to as the "secretions of the 

 wound." Such must not be allowed to accumulate in 

 spaces in the wound, and proper drainage is necessary. 

 Accumulations of serum not only cause tension in the 

 wound,, but also favor the growth of micro-organisms. 



The various details in connection with aseptic wounds 

 need not occupy us further. For the reasons already 

 given, in the case of horses it is difficult to obtain healing 

 by first intention; that it is possible even in the major 

 operations has been demonstrated by operators who have 

 had special opportunities for carrying out the technic. 

 But I have yet to learn that aseptic surgery, as con- 

 ducted by human surgeons, can be carried out in the 

 ordinary operation by the general practitioner. Take 

 even the latest surgical feat, the new operation for "roar- 

 ing," where aseptic precautions are rigidly carried out 

 before and during the. operation, and what is the result? 

 Certainly not healing by first intention in any instance, 

 and more often than otherwise the wound is septic and 

 frequently fetid. Such a condition would be regarded 

 as anything but creditable in human laryngeal surgery— 

 but then the circumstances are different. 



There are some enthusiasts who give details of aseptic 

 methods of castration ; needless to say, they do not oper- 

 ate on many colts and have very little idea of the condi- 



