730 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
cytes of a healthy tissue will probably do the rest. From these 
principles we adopt the following technique : Clip or shave 
the hair from the vicinity, scrub it with clean hot 'water and 
soap and then bathe for a time with a strong mercuric chloride 
solution ( 1-250 ). The wound itself is trimmed of all ragged 
and necrotic portions and then irrigated for a long time with a 
solution 1-1000 or even weaker if more time can be given to 
the irrigation. It is then dusted lightly with iodoform and if 
suturing is indicated the edges are brought together and the 
whole surface covered with a thick layer of the same powder. 
The wound is now ready for the occlusive dressing to suit the 
location. There need be no great variation from this simple 
practical method of treating the accidental wounds of our pa¬ 
tients. The matter of drainage will occasionally demand a 
change of the technique. 
The operating region , which in most cases refer to the un¬ 
broken skin, is treated in much the same way. The hair is clip¬ 
ped or shaved, scrubbed as before mentioned, and bathed for a 
time with mercuric chloride ( 1-250 or even stronger ) and to 
further perfect the disinfection the moistened skin may be 
rubbed with iodoform. A woufid ( incision ) made in such a 
surface is aseptic and therefore requires no antiseptic irrigation 
and under no circumstances must any substances not perfectly 
stei ilized ( antiseptic solutions included ) be permitted to come 
in contact with it. d he baling of blood, the manual examina¬ 
tion, the suturing, etc., must not be permitted to become the 
cause of contaminating such a wound. 
{To be continued .) 
SURGICAL ITEMS. 
The Importance of Diagnosis .—In our upward movement in 
the science and art of surgery we should stop long enough to 
consider whether or not we are making equal progress in the 
ait of diagnosis. Rational therapy as well as correct prognosis 
depends exclusively upon accuracy in diagnosis. I11 fact, with¬ 
out an accuiate estimate of the lesion at hand no surgical 
operation should be undertaken for its relief. No one thing^will 
bring us more prestige than a well executed operation that 
terminates favoiably, and probably nothing will bring us a more 
piompt condemnation than the one that fails in its purpose, 
hailuie is often due to mistaken diagnosis. I11 veterinary 
surgery errors are of course excusable, as diagnosis largely, in 
