First, the new Spanish government told the United States that it was willing to offer a change in the Reconcentration policies (the main set of policies that was feeding yellow journalism in the United States) if the Cuban rebels agreed to a cessation of hostilities.
Some were assigned to keep their stitched wounds dry and covered for at least 48 hours (the control group), and others were told to keep the dressing on to absorb immediate bleeding, then remove it and bathe as normal in the first 12 hours. None of the patients were on antibiotics.
If a person has received stitches, they should be given instructions for taking care of the stitches and wound, and be given an approximate date to have the stitches removed. A sample of such instructions is as follows: Keep wound clean and dry for the first 24 hours.