General Surgery 



position. Knots are unnecessary because the tissues hug the unin- 

 terrupted suture so closely that slipping does not occur. The ends 

 should be cut off quite close or the animal may seize them and drag 

 the suture out. When reunion of the parts is established, which is 

 usually the case at the end of ten or fourteen days, provided the 

 healing process has proceeded without check, the suture may be 

 easily withdrawn by seizing one end and applying traction on the 

 same. 



The Simple Interrupted Suture needs but a passing reference. 

 In ragged, angular and uneven wounds, where the subcuticular su- 

 ture can not be employed, and in those cases where the latter does 

 not succeed, recourse must be had to it. This suture should be tied 

 in a reef knot, and the latter should be made to one side of the 

 wound. Each suture should be placed from one-third to one-half 

 inch from its neighbor. 



For severed mucous membrane the best suture is that figured 

 in the accompanying illustration. It was devised by Thomas. It 

 is superior to the simple continuous suture because it brings the cut 

 edges of the mucosa tightly together and divides the wound into 

 independent segments. Each end of the suture is threaded on a 

 cambric needle. Commencing at the top end of the wound, one 

 needle is passed through, and the 

 silk or catgut follows until there is 

 half the length of the suture on 

 each side with its needle attached. 

 A reef knot is tied and the needle 

 which is on the right side is 

 brought over the left and passed 

 through lower down and back 

 again to the right, while the needle 

 which is on the left is taken over 

 to the right and passed through 

 back to the left immediately ad- 

 joining the previous one. A reef 

 kaot is again made and so on 

 throughout the extent of the 



wound. The various sutures employed in surgery of hollow vis- 

 cera are fully described under Enterorrhaphy. 



No. 2. Thomas sutare. 



