MODERN TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. 
169 
The wound is either treated exposed and open, or it is, after a 
coating of ointment, tincture or powder has been applied to it, 
Covered with cotton or oakum, held in position by bandages. The 
wound was infected when it originated ; to this infection add 
fresh virulence through the instruments or hands of the operator 
and the bandages. The latter are porous ; they are supposed to 
absorb the secretions from the wound, and in the same measure 
as they absorb the secretion, we have as a result decomposition 
and putrefaction taking place. On this account, the bandages 
must often be renewed, and the wound has not the rest necessary 
for healing. This method is still employed to a great extent in 
veterinary practice, although experience has taught us its futility. 
Of course the open treatment of wounds possesses undoubted ad¬ 
vantages over unguents, etc., since it holds that the main point to 
be kept in view, is to have free drainage of the secretions, be¬ 
cause if the secretions become stagnated in the wound, we have 
with free access of air, decomposition, which at once infects the 
wound and afterwards the entire organism. To produce free or 
natural drainage, we often make counterapertures, incisions and 
resort to drainage tubes. Wherever free drainage exists, local 
decomposition is prevented, and the wound must heal under these 
circumstances, unless some other antihygienic influence prevails. 
Since Lister’s principle became an active element of surgery, 
nearly every wound is drained by means of rubber drainage tubes, 
by which means the wound is kept clean; unhealthy secretions 
are eliminated, decomposition is prevented and healing by first 
intention is greatly facilitated. In veterinary practice it is often 
impossible to employ drainage and to apply antiseptic dressing at 
the same time, owing to the difficulties which we experience in the 
attempt, and also because the cost of the bandages and other ap¬ 
pliances in comparison with the value of the animal to be treated, 
puts the matter out of the question. We are enabled through 
the antiseptic treatment to perform certain operations without 
the subsequent occurrence of wound fever or swelling, and to 
heal the wound without the formation of pus. Septical wounds, 
especially such as are found on the hoofs of horses or claws of 
cattle, are dressed with great advantage according to the antiseptic 
