HORSE-HAIR By J.
SUTURES.
FAYRER, M.D.,
Peofessor or Sukgery, Medical College, Calcutta. It is not, I hair makes
a
most excellent suture.
Medical Gazette may it
known that the common horseA short notice in the have the effect of procuring for
believe, generally
perhaps
and I
general trial; proved of. a
am
sure
that, if tried,
it will be ap-
Metallic sutures, introduced by Dr. Marion Sims, have alentirely superseded silk and hemp, over which, when made of properly annealed and allotroprized metals, they have many most
advantages. The resilient, un-annealed oxidizable iron-wire generally supplied has, however, so many disadvantages, that it is dou jtful whether one might not, as far as it is concerned, with benefit return to the silk j for its rigidity, tendency to kink" and the difficulty experienced in withdrawing it when no longer required?not to speak of its liability to oxidation in the "
wound, its aptness
to
cut itself rut when there is any
tension
in the
parts brought together?are very unfavorable as a set-off against its advantages. Soft, properly annealed iron-wire makes a good suture 5 silver wire, similarly treated, is even better; and other metals, such as gold, platinum, lead, may be used, but their costliness or want of cohesion prevents them from being of general application. horse's tail is in many devised. It lias in its smoothand unirrita-
Well selected white hair out of
respects
better than
the
advantages
all
ting surface. It ordinary wounds
has in
the tension is great. excite decomposition
suture
any of metal
a
hitherto
strength enough apposition, or it It is
to
keep the lips
may be doubled not liable to decompose, or
of if to
or suppuration, It can be removed causing pain or haemorrhage, and its extreme pliancy and delicacy render it peculiarly applicable in all wounds sutures are required. For or parts where fine and frequent wounds of the face, eyelids, or indeed any part of the integument, and in plastic operations, it is peculiarly suitable. It does not leave the disfiguring linear cicatrices, nearly always caused by the wire suture ; and when it has done its duty, it may be removed by snipping with a pair of scissors, and withdrawing the suture with an ordinary pair of forceps, with infinitely less trouble, pain, or bleeding than so frequently attends similar proceedings with wire. It can be applied with the common
without
206 needle, slip.
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE. and
if knotted in the usual
surgical
way it docs not
I recommend it strongly, after some years' experience, to the profession in India, where it is likely to be of even more satisfactory application than in cold climates. Horse-hair sutures have
been in constant use in the Medical
for several years, and I have invariably found most valuable contribution to minor surgery.
College Hospital them to be
a
is hardly a point to be considered in sutures that are to stitch the human body. But as it may have to be thought of, and as it is not improbable that the fitting wire suture may not
Economy
always be at hand, it is well to know that wo have an efficient substitute in horse-hair. That from the tail of a white or grey horse is the best.. I hardly know why it should be so, but I
find the white is
black hair.
better,
both in
strength
and
color,
than the
The matter may appear a trifle, but it is nevertheless an ; for if one can, on the one hand, avoid the alleged
important trifle
even danger, from suppuration, of the hemp ligature, or, on the other, the disadvantages of the wire, the subject is sufficiently interesting to be worthy of the consideration of all practising surgeons.
inconvenience and and silk
[August 1,
I860.
SUTURES.
FAYRER, M.D.,
Peofessor or Sukgery, Medical College, Calcutta. It is not, I hair makes
a
most excellent suture.
Medical Gazette may it
known that the common horseA short notice in the have the effect of procuring for
believe, generally
perhaps
and I
general trial; proved of. a
am
sure
that, if tried,
it will be ap-
Metallic sutures, introduced by Dr. Marion Sims, have alentirely superseded silk and hemp, over which, when made of properly annealed and allotroprized metals, they have many most
advantages. The resilient, un-annealed oxidizable iron-wire generally supplied has, however, so many disadvantages, that it is dou jtful whether one might not, as far as it is concerned, with benefit return to the silk j for its rigidity, tendency to kink" and the difficulty experienced in withdrawing it when no longer required?not to speak of its liability to oxidation in the "
wound, its aptness
to
cut itself rut when there is any
tension
in the
parts brought together?are very unfavorable as a set-off against its advantages. Soft, properly annealed iron-wire makes a good suture 5 silver wire, similarly treated, is even better; and other metals, such as gold, platinum, lead, may be used, but their costliness or want of cohesion prevents them from being of general application. horse's tail is in many devised. It lias in its smoothand unirrita-
Well selected white hair out of
respects
better than
the
advantages
all
ting surface. It ordinary wounds
has in
the tension is great. excite decomposition
suture
any of metal
a
hitherto
strength enough apposition, or it It is
to
keep the lips
may be doubled not liable to decompose, or
of if to
or suppuration, It can be removed causing pain or haemorrhage, and its extreme pliancy and delicacy render it peculiarly applicable in all wounds sutures are required. For or parts where fine and frequent wounds of the face, eyelids, or indeed any part of the integument, and in plastic operations, it is peculiarly suitable. It does not leave the disfiguring linear cicatrices, nearly always caused by the wire suture ; and when it has done its duty, it may be removed by snipping with a pair of scissors, and withdrawing the suture with an ordinary pair of forceps, with infinitely less trouble, pain, or bleeding than so frequently attends similar proceedings with wire. It can be applied with the common
without
206 needle, slip.
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE. and
if knotted in the usual
surgical
way it docs not
I recommend it strongly, after some years' experience, to the profession in India, where it is likely to be of even more satisfactory application than in cold climates. Horse-hair sutures have
been in constant use in the Medical
for several years, and I have invariably found most valuable contribution to minor surgery.
College Hospital them to be
a
is hardly a point to be considered in sutures that are to stitch the human body. But as it may have to be thought of, and as it is not improbable that the fitting wire suture may not
Economy
always be at hand, it is well to know that wo have an efficient substitute in horse-hair. That from the tail of a white or grey horse is the best.. I hardly know why it should be so, but I
find the white is
black hair.
better,
both in
strength
and
color,
than the
The matter may appear a trifle, but it is nevertheless an ; for if one can, on the one hand, avoid the alleged
important trifle
even danger, from suppuration, of the hemp ligature, or, on the other, the disadvantages of the wire, the subject is sufficiently interesting to be worthy of the consideration of all practising surgeons.
inconvenience and and silk
[August 1,
I860.
