43 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
conducive to the general welfare of the wound. The tension 
caused by the packing, which is always increased by the addi¬ 
tion of blood, will entirely change the aspects of a wound if al¬ 
lowed to remain in place too long, and besides, the posssbility 
of sepsis is augmented. As a useful hint in veterinaiy surgery 
the importance of this method of arresting haemorrhage cannot 
be overestimated. 
The second class requires more delicate manipulation, and I 
might add patience. The slightest oozing cannot be immedi¬ 
ately arrested under any circumstances without applying agents 
that will interfere with the integrity of the wounded tissues. 
Even the too liberal application of forceps pressure and torsion 
to oozing spots is by no means without its detrimental effects, 
for every speck of tissue that is so bruised adds to the inflam¬ 
mation and therefore retards healing. The forceps should then 
only be used upon the larger vessels and the minor ones con¬ 
trolled either by baling with dry cotton or with hot styptic 
solutions. A weak tannin solution applied to a wound at a 
temperature of 115 0 Fahr. has a wonderful effect upon oozing 
vessels and does not coagulate the albumen of the tissues suffi¬ 
ciently to do harm. Cold water has only a very temporary 
styptic effect. It actually increases bleeding if continued for 
considerable time. 
In wound treatment we can only recognize permanent 
haemostasis ; so, therefore, the tourniquet, compress, etc., used 
to arrest haemorrhage during an operation belong to surgery 
proper. 
A further study of the subject might be made by glancing 
at the various methods by which haemostasis is produced :— 
1. By compress packing. 
2. By irrigation with mild styptics. 
3. By forceps torsion and compression. 
4. By ligation. 
5. By cauterization. 
Each of these methods has its special indications; com¬ 
press packing when the haemorrhage is profuse and there is no 
time to arrest it by other methods ; irrigations with mild styp¬ 
tics for capillary oozing ; forceps torsion for more profuse bleed¬ 
ing ; ligation for superficial spurting vessels ; and cauterization 
when prompt healing is not a consideration. 
Secondary Hcemorrhage .—The subject of secondary haemor¬ 
rhage is of sufficient importance to warrant brief notice, but it 
is by no means as important in veterinary as inhuman surgery. 
