274 



DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



much fat, or has been subject to much manipulation. In case a 

 drain is used, it may be of rubber tubing, or gauze covered with 

 gutta percha tissue, and it should reach to the lowest depths of the 

 wound, while the rest of the wound may be closed with sutures. It is 

 well to cover the wound with a layer of aseptic gauze, saturated with 

 1-1,000 corrosive sublimate solution, and then with dry aseptic 

 gauze and bandage. If an aseptic wound is thus secured it is of 

 the utmost advantage to leave the dressings undisturbed until the 

 latest moment. Only pain and swelling, fever and other evidences 

 of infection; or the necessity of removing stitches or drain should 

 lead one to remove the dressing for a week or ten days. If the 

 dressings become saturated with blood or serum they may be cov- 

 ered with more material. The use of splints on a limb is conducive 

 to rest and asepsis after an operation on this part. Dogs are the 

 best veterinary subjects for aseptic surgery. 



Accidental Wounds and Ulcers. — In emergency and acci- 

 dent cases requiring immediate operation no washing of the skin 

 is required. The hair is to be clipped about the wound and tincture 

 of iodine swabbed on the skin and wound, after wiping away the 

 blood with absorbent cotton. In fresh wounds, bleeding must 

 be arrested by hot, or even boiling, water; ice water; the hot 

 iron at red heat in very vascular or deep seated wounds ; hemo- 

 static forceps ; tourniquet ; acupressure or finger pressure ; torsion 

 or chemicals, as adrenalin solution, according to custom or circum- 

 stance. Long and continuous cleansing of the wound, by allowing 

 solutions of corrosive sublimate (1-3,000) or lysol (2 per cent.) to 

 fall upon the wound from a height or by means of forcible washing 

 with a sterile syringe, is essential to get union by first intention. 

 All foreign bodies and bits of destroyed tissue must be removed. 

 It is wise to finally swab out the wound with hydrogen dioxide. 



Divided tendons, nerves and muscles should be properly ap- 

 proximated by sterile catgut. If the wound is not deep, nor much 

 contused nor lacerated, nor infected, it may be closed without 



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