4 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



for evacuation of pus cavities. Being without irritant effect, it may 

 be poured in full strength into a septic wound. It immediately lib- 

 erates its oxygen, effervesces and forms a frothy foam which brings 

 dead and moribund matter to the surface. Boiled salt water in the 

 strength of 5 :iooo to i : 100 is used for flushing the abdominal cavity 

 and the bladder. 



Of the dry antiseptics the synthetic powder Tri-brom-phenol- 

 bismuth, commercially known as Xeroform, is without a peer. It 

 not only promotes active healing but exerts a pronounced anodyne 

 effect as well. Whether used on ulcers or freshly infected wounds 

 the beneficial results are quickly apparent. Other excellent prepa- 

 rations are Aristol, lodol, and Bismuth Formic-Iodide. 



SUTUBING AND LIGATING MATERIAL. 



The materials commonly used for suturing and ligating are silk, 

 silver wire, silkworm gut, catgut, linen thread and rubber bands. 

 Pure Chinese twisted silk forms an excellent suturing material for 

 general purposes. Either white or black is used, the latter being 

 more easily seen, which is a matter of some advantage in suturing 

 hollow viscera. When used in the skin, the texture should be mod- 

 erately stout (Nos. 6-12), but for hollow visceral organs it should 

 be as fine as is consistent with strength (No. 2). As a buried suture 

 or ligature it is also very desirable as it readily becomes encap- 

 sulated in the tissues and remains inert. It is best rendered sterile 

 by boiling just before using. Silver wire is indispensable in bone 

 suturing. If rendered perfectly sterile when inserted and the wound 

 remains free of infection, it may generally be allowed to remain per- 

 manently in place without fear of its giving rise to irritation, though 

 the latter sometimes happens, which necessitates its removal after it 

 has served its purpose. Silkworm gut being non-absorbable and at 

 the same time having a perfectly smooth surface, is preferred by 

 some to silk. It is rendered sterile by boiling and the knots possess 

 little tendency to become undone or loosened. Catgut is theoreti- 

 cally a very valuable suturing material on account of its being ab- 

 sorbed and not requiring removal. But it is sterilized with diffi- 

 culty (it can not be boiled), it is apt to be absorbed too rapidly, and 

 it becomes untied too easily through swelling and softening by 

 absorption of moisture. Chromicized catgut is said to be capable of 

 resisting absorption from three to four weeks. Any one of the other 



