L. A. THOMAS. 
108 
assistant should thoroughly scrub their hands, and invest them¬ 
selves in a clean rubber or cloth apron before proceeding. All 
instruments required should be placed in a tray, or clean basin, 
and covered with 3 per cent, solution carbolic acid; another 
basin should contain sterilized gauze cut in convenient sizes for 
sponging; a third, containing sterilized water, should be within 
reach of the operator for occasionally rinsing his hands. 
Before the wound is closed, all haemorrhage should be con¬ 
trolled, blood clots removed, and the surface sponged dry; the 
edges of the wound brought in direct apposition, and the sutures 
tied sufficiently tight to maintain the apposition, but no tighter. 
The external surface should then be dusted over with iodo¬ 
form or boracic acid, upon which should be placed several thick¬ 
nesses of gauze, followed by a layer of absorbent cotton, all of 
which should be kept in place by a rubber bandage. Should a 
bandage be inconvenient, strips of adhesive plaster, extending 
four or five inches on either side, may be used to maintain the 
dressing in .place. The dressings should remain undisturbed 
for a week, provided no fetid odor is detected. Should there be 
escaping serum from the wound, another layer of absorbent 
cotton should be applied over the old one to prevent germs 
from coming in contact with the serum. 
For several years I have followed almost precisely this line 
of treatment, and have been much gratified with the results 
obtained. I would therefore say to those who are inclined to 
be somewhat sceptical, or those who have not given the subject 
much thought, that you have only to test it to be satisfied. 
But if you should not succeed the first time, do not declare the 
method a failure, as the failure could only have been due to 
.neglect on your part of one or more of the important features. 
