l82 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
resented by the patient is to apply strips of the best resin plaster ; 
each strip must be passed sharply backwards and forwards over hot 
embers to ensure perfect adhesion. Hair should be removed. 
To apply it cut two strips of plaster about 2 feet in length and 
of width according to length of wound, say from i inch to 3 inches, 
shaped as Nos. i and 2 ; pass No. i through the window C of No. 2 
and adjust before sticking down, so that the length of one piece 
overlies the length of the other [see Fig. 36). Having done this, 
stick A end of No. i on one side of the wound and the B end of 
No. 2 on the other, leaving the B end of No. i and the A end of 
No. 2 free. Exert traction on both these free ends, which will 
approximate the edges of the wound. Having performed this stick 
the ends down. In case the above is not clearly expressed, cut 
strips out of paper and practise the method. This plan answers 
well in some wounds. 
Another method may be tried as follows : Suturing or sewing. 
This is a less easy matter in the case of elephants owing to the 
thickness of the hide and the strength of the muscle beneath the 
skin. It is certainly worth trying in recent incised wounds. Ordi- 
nary stitches do not as a rule hold well. The use of some new 
suture buttons suggested by Mr. Pugh, and manufactured by 
Messrs. Arnold & Sons, West Smithfield, London, is therefore 
recommended. The button is to be had in various sizes and in 
two shapes, oval and round. It is made of aluminium and is there- 
fore light ; there is a hole in the centre for passage of the wire and 
on each side of the hole is a clip, around which the wire can be 
twisted in a figure of eight. The advantages claimed are : its 
simplicity and lightness, it prevents cutting or tearing of the edges 
of the wound, and lastly it is easily rendered aseptic for future use 
by boiling. 
In stitching elephant wounds separate stitches are the best. It 
is better to make the first stitch at the centre of the wound. To 
make a stitch, the needle is passed through the skin on one side of 
the wound from without inwards ; then through the other edge from 
within outwards ; the ends of the wire are to be taken and drawn 
in gently so as to bring the edges of the wound together ; when 
this has been effected, the ends of the wire are to be twisted 
securely. The employment of buttons will be preferable. Stitches 
should not be too close : a space of at least i J inches to inches 
should be allowed. The most dependent part of the wound must be 
left open in order to permit free escape of all discharges. The lips 
of large gaping wounds must not be forcibly dragged together, as 
the stitches will cause much pain and are almost certain to give way. 
Again, stitches should not be made too near the edges ; they should 
