32 WOUND TREATMENT 



that such did exist I have no doubt, but at present there 

 are few practitioners who deny the benefits of Listerian 

 principles. 



In order to comprehend the principles of the modern 

 treatment of wounds, and to compare the antiseptic 

 methods with those designated as aseptic, it is necessary 

 to consider briefly the significance of certain terms that 

 are employed in connection with the subject. Unfor- 

 tunately, it happens that the same term is occasionally 

 applied in more senses than one, or has a different 

 meaning attached to it by various authors. 



The term septic was formerly applied to wouiids of 

 an offensive character, which were frequently associated 

 with septicemia, pyemia, and similar conditions. But 

 as it is recognized now that the above conditions arise 

 from the action of pus-producing organisms, the term 

 septic is generally applied to all suppurating wounds. 



Recognizing, however, that wounds may be offensive 

 and distinctly unhealthy, without any evidences of the 

 presence of pus, it is clear that septic can he applied 

 to conditions depending on a variety of micro-organisms. 

 In many cases the septic condition of a wound depends 

 on one pathogenic organism, but in almost every in- 

 stance ordinary pyogenic organisms are present, asso- 

 ciated with those characteristic of sepsis. 



In practice, however, we are generally inclined to ap- 

 ply the term septic to a putrid condition of a wound, 

 associated or not with the presence of pus. As a large 

 number of accidental wounds in the horse heal by granu- 

 lation but not under aseptic conditions, suppuration to 

 a varying extent is common, but the pus is not offensive, 

 the wound tends to heal with ordinary care, and we do 

 not apply the term septic to it, although certainly it 

 could not be described as aseptic. As I shall point out 

 later on, a large number of accidental wounds in horses 



