period stitches

[Pvt_M]

Does anybody know of the proper way to do period stitches to close up a wound? I recently gave myself stitches with a needle and thread. Upon talking to a doctor friend about it, he told me to take them out immediately, as this may cause an infection. This got me to thinking, I've heard that if you couldn't clean the cloth out of a gunshot wound, you were pretty much a gonner. I work at a living history park, so I asked our medical historian, she said she'd heard of using cat-gut or horse hair, but that was all she knew. If anyone knows of the period correct way to do this that won't give me a life threatening infection, please let me know.

Thanks,
Brian Mott

[PetePaolillo]

Re: period stitches

Here is a period correct solution. Go to a doctor or a hospital.

[chadwick]

Re: period stitches

First I would say that putting them in yourself can be a very bad idea. The wound should be cleaned and they should be placed under sterile conditions to avoid contamination of the wound.

As for period correct appearance, we still use black braded silk today to close some wounds and this looks and feels very similar to horse hair.

The technique for placing them would have been different back then. Obviously the equipment was quite different and keep in mind that they had very poor understanding of infections and transmission of contamination from one wound to another. Often wounds would be left open “to drain” and any sutures placed were often spaced out to allow puss to evacuate the wound.

I would suggest seeing your physician and asking them for silk if you wanted the look to be close. Otherwise you could get regular sutures and cover the wound with a period bandage.

[August77]

Re: period stitches

There is an article in the new CCG on this very subject. Might be worth a look.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: period stitches

This is one case where authenticity needs to take a back seat to common sense. I agree with the advice to cover the modern stitches with a period dressing.

In general, you shouldn't close a wound with stitches yourself unless the circumstances are very dire--I'm talking stranded on a desert island dire. For a small (less than 1" and not on face or hands) wound, butterflies are a much better idea for home treatment. If a hole is too big or won't close with butterflies, you need to see a doctor anyhow! FWIW, Urgent Care may be a quicker and less expensive solution than ER for ordinary cuts. Most UC facilities can handle a few stitches on a non-critical body part and can also evaluate the need for tetanus boosters or antibiotics.

[D.W. Scalf]

Re: period stitches

That's pretty hard core. Hey, isn't this an article from "The Onion"?? Oh wait.... that was an amputated leg.

D.W. Scalf

[Shantyman]

Re: period stitches

I agree with going to a Urgent Care or Emergency Department. Not only does inserting sutures by yourself without a specific licensure SIGNIFICANTLY increase the chance of infection and permanent scarring it it also illegal and is considered practicing medicine without a license, especially if you were to do it on someone else.

[Bill]

Re: period stitches

There is an article in the new CCG on this very subject. Might be worth a look.

I just read the article. It was very interesting. The suture needles and suturing were quite different in the 1860's than the modern methods. The article was written by a doctor, Michael Echols, who really seemed to know his subject.

[Hawke_Man]

Re: period stitches

Looks like someone may be coming up for a Darwin Award soon.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: period stitches

Hallo!

Modern silk sutures are often treated/coated to be serum and water proof so as not "wick" germs into the wound.

(Is the purpose or intent here to create a "Civil War" era scar, or to invite a
CW era infection?)

:) :)

Curt
Who was just looking at his brother-in-law's latest surgery's "superglue" plus staple non-stitches, and who himself just had a three inch incision closed with sticky tapes Mess

[Pvt_M]

Re: period stitches

I guess my wording wasn't great, but my intention isn't to do so myself, unless really necesarry, I'm presently going on a trip to Thailand, and the CDC suggested bringing your own suture kits, and if you have medical training, and don't have access to quality medical services, to sew yourself up. I'm going with my sister, who is a nurse, so I'd have her do them, not me. Mostly it was just an interest, as this is a part of the impression I'd never really heard much about, the question still stands, anyone else heard of catgut or horsehair? (no I don't intend to use these)

[PetePaolillo]

Re: period stitches

Brian, That is good to know..............I don't have the reference in front of me so I say this reluctantly, but surgeons used horsehair for suturing and unintentionally were sterilizing the hair by boiling it first..this of course was to make it more pliable as they had no idea that they were sterilizing the sutures, by this practice.

Bare with me as I find the reference.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: period stitches

Here are the written works of Confederate Surgeon Robert Deering, I pasted an excerpt from his writings.

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%253Atext%253A2001.05.0112%253Achapter%253D1.11

When sponges became scarce, old but clean linen or cotton rags were used and then thrown away or burned, another aseptic procedure, although at the time that special designation had not been given it. Occasionally, silk for ligatures and sutures was limited, but it was as easily transmitted by blockade or the ‘underground’ as were quinine and morphia; yet a few times I was forced to use cotton or flax thread of domestic make, and horse hair, boiled, to make it more pliant and soft—again accidental asepsis.

[forrestcav]

Re: period stitches

first if I was going overseas and was only suturing the skin, then i'd go with a monofiliment (think fishing line) suture like a 3-0. As for period sutures, yes horse hair works, lewis and Clark human found hair worked very well and left little scaring. Silk suture work well and don't hold infection like cotton will, although i've read of leaving cotton thread hanging out of the wound to allow it to drain.

[benjclark]

Re: period stitches

For modern purposes whilst travelling, Super Glue works great. Had trouble a few months ago w/ a good cut across the top of my knuckles. Kept busting open. Super Glue did the trick.