DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
841 
SURGICAL, ITEMS. 
Suturing Cutaneous Wounds. —Many veterinary surgeons 
who are successful operators often neglect to close their surgi¬ 
cal wounds properly. The unsightly cicatrices that are left be¬ 
hind reflect upon the principle and practice of the operator. 
The principle that governs suturing is simple, and it is proba¬ 
bly for this leason that this procedure is so often neglected. 
The direction of incisions may be straight, angular, arciform, 
elliptoid or sigmoid. Straight and angular incisions should be 
sutured so that the stitches form a right angle (90°) with the 
incision, excepting those that occur at the angle, and these 
should divide the angle into two equal parts. The stitches of 
arciform or elliptoid incision should converge toward the 
centre of the circle or ellipse of which it forms a part of the cir¬ 
cumference ; sigmoid incisions should be sutured in the same 
manner, making the radii correspond to the direction of the 
curves. The application of stitches in minor surgery is a very 
important factor, not as a matter of dollars and cents,—sepsis 
and asepsis, or life and death,—but as an example of the sur¬ 
geon’s good work.— (E. Ml) 
Ureteral Anastomosis and ureteral grafting have received 
much attention in consequence of the frequency with the ureter 
is involved in the operation of vaginal hysterectomy. Form¬ 
erly the only hope that could be held out for the patient suffer¬ 
ing from ureteral fistula after such an operation, was nephrec¬ 
tomy, but. ureteral anostomosis and grafting bid fair to entirely 
replace this severe procedure.—(//. Morris , International Jour . 
ofSuri) 
hi Small Abdominal JJAunds it is difficult to ascertain 
whether the peritoneum is perforated or not, but in no case 
should the wound be probed for this purpose. In order to de¬ 
termine the extent of the wound, the patient should be secured, 
and an incision made in the skin, passing through the wound, 
then incise the .muscles one by one until the extent of the 
wound is ascertained, and the operator can then govern himself 
accordingly.— {E. M.) 
Dr. W.J. Marini's Episjastic for Spavin. —Corrosive sub¬ 
limate, one ounce ; hydrochloric acid, one ounce ; oil of tur¬ 
pentine, six ounces ; gum camphor, four ounces ; rectified spir¬ 
its, forty-three ounces. Dissolve the corrosive sublimate in the 
hydrochloric acid and seven ounces of the alcohol. Mix the 
oil of turpentine, camphor and remainder of the alcohol, then 
add the two solutions together. Directions : Apply over the 
