32 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



the proximity of large vessels or other important structures, instead 

 a counter opening may be made by inserting a director and cutting 

 down on the same. It is hardly necessary to point out that provision 

 must be made for drainage to guard against the reconversion of the 

 sinus into an abscess. Special forms of fistula and their treatment 

 will receive notice under their respective headings. 



BURNS. SCALDS. 



This form of injury varies in degree, from mere scorching to 

 destruction of the cuticle and hair with production of blisters, to 

 charring of the whole thickness of the skin, including often the 

 deeper tissues, with consecutive gangrene. Deep and extensive 

 burns are very apt to terminate fatally either through shock or ab- 

 sorption of toxic products produced by tissue destruction. Burns 

 may be caused by superheated liquids or solids, or by caustic sub' 

 stances. 



Treatment. In light burns very satisfactory results are obtained 

 with applications of picric acid in solution (saturated while hot and 

 decanted when cold). Soothing ointments are also efficacious. In 

 severe burns treatment must be directed to prevention of sepsis, by 

 dusting with analgesic antiseptic powders. Blisters should be 

 opened by pricking with a needle. In gangrene, antiseptic irrigations 

 and dressings are indicated. To quiet the nervous system and 

 give relief from pain morphine and atropine should be administered 

 hypodermically. 



FROST-BITES. 



The local effects of frost-bites resemble burns, and like, the lat- 

 ter, may vary in degree from simple hyperemia and infiltration to 

 separation of the epidermis by serous exudation, to mortification of 

 the part. Frost-bites are usually confined to the extremities of the 

 members, but it is very rare to observe extreme cases. 



Treatment. The object to be aimed at is to restore the circula- 

 tion as slowly as possible. For this purpose, the affected parts may 

 be immersed in cold water, the temperature of which should be grad- 

 ually raised, or they may be rubbed with snow. In severe cases 

 leading to gangrene, the ordinary antiseptic treatment of wounds 

 must be followed. 



