54 WOUND TREATMENT 



region of tlie hind quarter. But proper drainage must 

 be secured at all costs, otherwise treatment will fail and 

 septicemia result. If necessary, the animal should be 

 cast in order to carry out the surgical procedure ; after- 

 treatment will consist in copious irrigation with anti- 

 septic solutions carried out by means of a Winton's 

 syringe provided with a ' gum-elastic top. "Where ex- 

 pense is not objected to, the wound should be plugged 

 with dolible cyanid gauze soaked in hydrogen peroxid 

 solution, the irrigation and dressing being carried out 

 daily. 



Time will not permit me to deal with the question of 

 open joints, whiph in reality would require a special 

 paper. But I cannot omit drawing - attention to the 

 (dangerous character of punctured wounds in the fore- 

 arm, which are not uncommonly followed by purulent 

 arthritis of the elbow joint. The septic inflammation ex- 

 tends along the sheaths of the tendons, and these ten- 

 dons support directly the synovial membrane of the 

 elbow joint. Hence wounds of this region should be 

 drained as early as possible by a free dependent opening. 



Conclusion 



The practical outcome of a consideration of the sub- 

 ject appears to be that, although we can never hope to 

 practice aseptic surgery in the strict sense of the term, 

 we can at least carry out antiseptic principles, so far as 

 is possible under the very unfavorable conditions that 

 surround us. 



Improvements in the results obtained are more likely 

 to follow strict attention to surgical cleanliness and 

 proper drainage of wounds than care in the selection 

 of the agents we employ as drainage. After twenty-five 

 years of "playing the game," and seeing it played by 



