168 
W. J. TURNER. 
that bacteriologists of the greatest competency have failed in their 
attempts, and no one has been able to categorically control Ros- 
enbach’s results—may cause us to hesitate in affirming the ques¬ 
tion, although it may be possible to admit as very probable the 
infectious and transmissible nature of tetanus. 1 ’ 
MODERN TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. 
Translated by W. J. Turner, Ph.D. 
The method of treating wounds has undergone many changes 
and witnessed as many improvements during the last fifteen years, 
ever since the doctrine of Lister has been established on a solid 
basis. That doctrine may be expressed in these few words, 
“ Keep the wound perfectly clean and prevent infection.” In 
veterinary practice it is not always possible to obtain the same 
results in the treatment of wounds as it is in human practice, for 
reasons too obvious to require explanation. We have, neverthe¬ 
less, had some good results in the treatment of wounds in veteri¬ 
nary practice within recent years, and accomplished veterinarians 
are everywhere directing their efforts towards improvement of 
the technical details of dressing. The watchword of the new 
treatment of wounds is, “ Antisepsis,” or the prevention of infec¬ 
tion. Experience and observation have proved that the sur¬ 
rounding air is saturated with decomposing ferments, bacteria, 
bacilli and schizomycetes. We might in fact say that a wound 
becomes almost instantaneously infected with decomposing fer¬ 
ments the moment it is produced. And if we consider that our 
clothing, instruments, bandages, and especially the bedding in the 
stables contain bacteria to some extent, it is evident that every 
wound, even those which have been made by operation, become 
more or less directly infected. The modern rational treatment 
of wounds demands antisepsis, requires removal of the decompos¬ 
ing ferments and especially their continued preclusion. Do prac¬ 
titioners always comply with this rational demand of modern sur¬ 
gery ? Some veterinary surgeons say it is impossible to fulfill 
these conditions, and for this reason we will keep on treating 
wounds according to the old method. What is this old method ? 
