Where perfect apposition has been made, the dusting powders may be used and a covering of Lister’s protective silk plaster placed over it. The edge of the strips of plaster must be incised at distances of about ⅛ inch, so as to snugly take on the curvature of the parts and at the same time thoroughly seal over the area to prevent subsequent contamination.
The plaster is made of taffeta silk, preferably of flesh color, coated on one side with copal varnish and a mixture prepared as follows:
| ℞ | Dextrin | ʒj; |
| Starch | ʒij; | |
| Carbolic acid | ℥ij. |
When applied, it should be moistened with an antiseptic solution only. This can be applied only to dry surfaces, however, and should be rarely used, since subsequent hemorrhage or oozing will raise the plasters, inviting sepsis.
It is better, however, in all cases to employ several layers of an antiseptic gauze, such as fifteen-per-cent iodoform or boric-acid gauze to cover the wound, and back it with absorbent cotton, over which a bandage or the silk protective is applied to retain it. The gauze absorbs the secretions, at the same time rendering them harmless.
At no time should cotton be placed next to the wound, as it forms a hard mass with the secretions, the removal of which requires enough force to injure or hazard the union of a new wound. Nor should a plaster dressing be pulled off without thoroughly moistening it first, withdrawing the various layers one by one. The gauze, when moistened, readily leaves the wound without injurious traction. An excellent dressing for small, dry wounds, and one that causes little tension, is collodium, or, better, iodoform-collodium painted over the surface. The latter may be prepared as follows;
| ℞ | Iodoformum | 5j; |
| Collodium | 5x. | |
| [Küster.] | ||
To this may be added oil of turpentine or castor oil, which permits of greater flexibility. Boric lint, applied wet, is also good. It must be moistened thoroughly before removal. Larger wounds should be dusted over with one of the powders mentioned and covered with folds of gauze and absorbent cotton, held in place with gauze bandages.