TREATMENT OF ABDOMINAL WOUNDS. 
255 
bear, particularly in herbivora, it is better in closing wounds of the 
abdominal walls to employ quilled sutures. Where pocketing of con¬ 
siderable quantities of wound discharge is probable, drains must be 
inserted, and the parts once more rinsed with disinfecting fluid. The 
sterilised material (wadding, wood wool, or jute, &c.) may, in larger 
animals, be held in position with soft cardboard or a straw mat; where 
these are not available, a sack or woollen rug may be used. The seveial 
dressings are kept in place by bandages or girths passed between the 
animal’s forelegs, and over its neck in the long axis of the body. 
Bandages also are sometimes introduced between the layers of 
dressings. In small animals, to prevent displacement fiom bieath- 
ing movements, the bandages are wound around both the tlioiax 
and abdomen. 
Should it subsequently become necessary to cast a large animal, m 
order to insert stitches or adjust dressings, care will be required to 
prevent prolapse and to protect prolapsed oigans. Foi these puiposes 
it may be necessary to apply a provisional dressing. Under certain 
circumstances anaesthesia is of assistance. Aftei adjusting the diessing, 
the animal must be kept as quiet as possible. Bogs are often troublesome, 
and as they try to tear off the dressing, must be continually watched, 
or receive a full dose of morphine, so that they shall sleep for several 
hours. The larger animals may, if necessary, be placed in slings. 
For several days the food chosen should be digestible, nutiitious, and 
small in amount, and water given only in small quantities. Buiing 
this time fever may supervene; if not marked and if symptoms of 
colic are absent, a favourable termination may be expected. The 
dressing is left undisturbed, unless it become saturated with discharge, 
or fever or other untoward symptom appear, when it is removed, the 
wound cleansed and disinfected, and the dressing replaced. Where from 
any cause dressings cannot be employed, the wound, aftei being cleansed 
and sutured, is irrigated with antiseptic fluids. Banger of wound infection 
and peritonitis is greatest during the first three days, but foi some time 
afterwards the same precautions regarding the wound must be obseived 
and care taken to facilitate drainage. A rise in temperature points to 
peritonitis, and necessitates fresh examination of the wound, 01 at least 
the renewal of the dressing. 
(c) Abdominal Wounds, with Prolapse of Internal Organs. The pro¬ 
lapse of portions of omentum, bowel, uterus, or other abdominal organ, 
constitutes a dangerous complication, llie prolapse pei s v is not so 
dangerous, but there is much difficulty in returning and retaining it in 
position, preventing soiling and injury and the entrance of infectious 
materials into the abdominal cavity. Walthard showed by experiments 
on dogs and cats that the injurious action of the air on the peritoneum 
