Treatment of Wounds

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21199, 23 August 1940, Page 19 (Supplement)

Treatment of Wounds

Preventing Infection* Ways To Assist Healing. Wounds heal in many different ways, which are generally technically described as (1) by intention, i.e., the sides of the wound are brought together and kept free from movement. When such conditions are possible, a large wound may heal in four or five days, but the method is difficult to apply to farm stock; (2) by granulation, i.e., the wide, gaping wound is gradually filled up by new tissues called granulations, which grow out from the surface of the wound, until the gap is entirely filled up to the level of the surrounding skin; (3) under a scab, i.e., a firm, dry scab is seen covering the wound, which, if left intact, will be shed naturally, when the newly-formed skin will have completed the healing process. Abrasions of the skin and other slight wounds usually heal under a scab. Keep Out the Microbes One often hears it said that "a dressing applied to the wound will heal it rapidly.” There is no truth in this statement, as the work of healing is done by Nature, but we can help on the process by suitable first-aid treatment. Wounds often heal badly because they are contaminated by growing bacteria. In such cases the wounds discharge freely and often have a bad smell, both being due to the presence of microbes. Keep a wound free from microbes and there will be no discharge and no smell; and the wound will heal up in the least possible time. When a wound is discovered, it is often soiled by contact with the ground or bedding. It needs to be thoroughly washed, using water that has been recently boiled, contained in a clean vessel, and applies! to the wound with a clean piece of old linen or calico; not a sponge. All blood-clot and any particles of soil or bedding adhering to the wound should be washed away. When the wound is clean, it should be dressed with disinfectant, a piece of lint, cotton-wool, or clean linen or calico being soaked in the solution, and then spread over the wound, and retained in its place by putting on a bandage where such is possible. A cotton surgical bandage .about three inches wide and three to six yards in length, is suitable, and it must be tied round with tape to keep it in position. Dry Dressings Best When the first-aid dressing is completed, it is wrong to wet the bandage; dry dressings are best. Formerly, wounds were constantly fomented with hot water for the first few days, until a plentiful discharge of matter was induced, and the wound was then supposed to be making good progress, it is now well known that wounds heal best when kept dry after the first washing, and there is little discharge and no smell in this case. Where the wound is so placed that bandaging is not possible, the lint should be spread with the fingers and pressed down into the deepest part of the wound, so that it is covered and protected from the air. Or the surface of the wound may be simply painted with tincture of iodine, which will give sufficient protection until the veterinary surgeon arrives. Such first-aid dressings will assist the surgeon in his efforts to get the wound to heal by first intention. Very often a wound fails to heal by this mode simply because it has not received careful ar.d proper first-aid treatment. It is a mistake to apply strong embrocations of any kind to wounds. They are horribly painful and do more harm than good.