at BAe WO a) vay rises WW rw ENON YCYLY, yA beh gh cbs, © H @ > AS CUES Glass eet Book. ‘W Bary 0’) aman a COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. ie Teer) Pa ie de rie 0 ; “ SURGICAL AND OBSTETRICAL ()PERATIONS BY W. L. WILLIAMS Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics in the New York State Veterinary College, Cornell University. Embodying portions of the OPERATIONSCURSUS of Dr. W. Pfeiffer, Professor of Veterinary Science in the University of Giessen. SECOND EDITION, REVISED PUBLISHED By THE AUTHOR ITHACA, N. Y. 1907 LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two Copies Recelved DEC 8 1906 Copyright Entry SG cLass AA XXc,, No. eager ao i COPY B. COHYRIGHT, 1906, BY Ww. L. WILLIAMS. ak PRESS OF ANDRUS & CHURCH, ITHACA, N. ¥. PREFACE. The author caused to be published in 1900 a booklet entitled : ‘‘ A Course in Surgical Operations by W. Pfeiffer and W. L,. Williams,’’ consisting of an authorized transla- tion of Dr. Pfeiffer’s Operations-Cursus with such changes, omissions and additions as were deemed desirable. Three years of constant use, with such criticisms as have come to the author from others, have served to point out desirable changes of so sweeping a character as to demand a practi- cally new treatise and to render the continuance of a formal joint authorship inexpedient. The author has drawn freely upon Dr. Pfeiffer’s Operations-Cursus in the preparation of the text which in many chapters is practically copied there- from, including the illustrations, and gratefully acknowl- edges his profound obligations thereto. On the other hand nothing has been copied or extracted except it could be freely adopted as the author’s own view, releasing Dr. Pfeiffer from all responsibility for the character of any of the con- Eents. The volume is primarily designed for the use of the auth- or’s classes 1n laboratory surgery and embryotomy in which the student performs the surgical operations described, on animals procured for the express purpose, under chloroform anaesthesia whenever possible, after which the subject is destroyed while still anaesthetized ; at the same time it has been aimed to render the volume of the greatest possible value to the practitioner consistent with this plan. The operations included under this scheme are necessarily limited to those which can be reasonably well performed on com- paratively sound animals of little value and regularly pro- curable for laboratory purposes. ‘The list covers a wide range and is designed to give to the student as thorough training as is practicable in a laboratory course and includes well nigh all the more important varietes of confinement, anaesthesia, disinfection, sutures, bandaging, dressing and other adjuncts to operative work. The chapter of trephin- iv PREEPACE: ing of the facial sinuses had been dealt with at length in order to fully and clearly describe the author’s method of operating ; a new operation for poll evil has been inserted and there has been included a description of some of the most important embryotomy operations as they are carried out in the laboratory by means of freshly killed, new born calves which are placed in the position described, in the arti- ficial uterus of a specially prepared skeleton. Generally but one method of operating is described, the one chosen being that which in the author’s experience has proven the most valuable in actual practice, and no opera- tion has been introduced purely for practice but each one has been tested and known to have practical value. Where two methods of operating are given, they are inserted because each has definite points of superiority over the other and one method may be specially applicable in a given case, another in a different patient where the same operation is to be performed as for example, a milk cow is best spayed through the vagina while a heifer must be operated on by an incision through the abdominal walls. Considerable stress has been laid upon the surgical an- atomy of the parts involved in each operation ; some uses of the various operations are mentioned ; some of the chief dangers of each are pointed out and in some cases references to literature upon the operation or the diseases for which the operation is designed, are cited. The figures in the text except Nos. 5, ro and 11, and the Plates Nos. 1,11, VII, xX, KH oly, XV Saaee XT XM, XX RXV, XXV i Land X XTX aire Dr. Pfeiffer’s Operations-Cursus; Plate No. III was drawn by Dr. C. F. Flocken, Bureau of Animal Industry, Wash- ington, D. C., and the remaining Plates were drawn under the direction of the author by Mr. C. W. Furlong, in- structor in Industrial Drawing and Art in Sibley College, Cornell University. W. L. WILLIAMS. Cornell University October, 1903. \ PREFACE: TO SECOND EDITION. The rapid exhaustion of our first edition has been highly gratifying to the author by indicating the appreciation of students and practitioners. We now submit a second edition which has been revised and somewhat extended. In our revision we acknowledge with thanks numerous valued suggestions from Drs. Liau- tard, Adams, Udall and others to which we have given careful consideration. As before it has been aimed to continue the volume as a brief, concise handbook of the technic of a number of the most important surgical proceedures, omitting the details common to all or most operations, and assumed that the student or practitioner has learned these otherwise. Our illustrations have been materially changed from the menicoition. Plates IX; XI, XIV, XxX; MMI, XXIV, mee KVL XXVIII XXXII, XXXII, and. Figures 1 to 8 and 12 to 14 are from Pffeiffer’s Operations-Cursus, while the other plates and figures have been made especially for this work under our personal supervision. The present edition is submitted with a full conscious- ness of its many defects. We dG. WEL EAMS: Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. DECEMBER, 1906. CONTENTS. I, OPERATIONS ON THE HEAD: Page i.) doetraction or Mecthe. ox wh oe lies oY I 2. Mine piteonor beer see ee tel 8 Trephituing the Hacial Sinuses V5 <= 88 2. 16 S: drephining of the Hrontal Sinuses: 622. so ee 19 4. Trephining the Maxillary Sinuses-\) =) > 2 2 ee 57, brephining tle Nasal, Fossae 37k. oy ee 2. 37 6. Poller Operation. o eere. 5 sek re AI 7 yioeeion: ot the Parotid (Ducts. > J a 45 o. Hntrepiam Operation eo i) ee 2 ee 50 OF. Staphy olonmiy. = 22) 2) ee ne Boe ee 5I TO. ME Earial NeuroOtontys - me a oTkY oo Nok! ee 55 Il. OPERATIONS ON THE NECK: i, Opening the Guttural Pouches! 2. 9622" pe 23> Se ee 57 2 eel PACHEOLOLhy. eee a a oe ae ee 63 PA AEVPCMCCLOM y? < 28552 poe ae 8 Se 3s 65 14. Roaring Operation by Excision of the Vocal Cords and Ven- icicle of. the Laryix 226 5 a ee 70 15. latra-tracheal Irrigation 220 ooo 8 Oh 75 16... Intravenous. Injection — 212" oath ow oy 75 17. @ Phlebotomy with Fleams 222... 225. 2223-4 a7. 6: Phiebotomy with Lancet..." > so ee 78 c.- Phlebotomy with: ‘Trocar: =.=. 3029 2 79 HS, Ligation of the Carotid Artery 3 42 eee 79 19. Chsophagotomy o2. Aer a ee 84 III. OPERATIONS ON THE TRUNK AND ON THE GENITAL ORGANS: 20; Puncture-of the Chest! =. 0 ee 86 21. Puncture of ‘the intestines). = 2 ee eee 87 22, Subcutaneous Caudal Myotomy 2.2. =. =. 0) +) eee 89 23. Caudal Myectomy for Gripping of the Reins --— __ eee gI 24. Amputation of ‘the Pailes2.¢. 2220 3s eee 95 on, Unethrotonty 2%. 2-9) eo ed ee a ee 100 26, Amputation of the Pets 222). 322 ge ee 27: NVaginal.Ovariotomy insthe Mare)-. =) = a eee _ 108 CONTENTS. vil ao. Vaginal Ovariotenty inthe Cows. 06 “re 11g 29, ‘Ovariotomy.in the Cow by the Plank 0 0 a 30. Ovariotomy in the Bitch by the Flank________ 122 31. Ovariotomy in the Bitch by the Linea Alba______ 129 Pee vanGrotipstn the Cats cm SN ee Ste a 1St apo atrationyvol Cryptorehid Horses: 3 28?) 2 132 IV. OPERATIONS ON THE EXTREMITIES : 34. Tenotomy of the Flexor Tendons of the Foot__.......______ 142 35. Tenotomy of the Peroneal Tendon (Stringhalt Operation)___ 144 36. Tenotomy of the Cunean Tendon (Spavin Operation). to. 146 BGM GLarimyS Sane erate To Thee yo Ds She eae es 148 cial Nou nOGtiny. 2 5 ho... woe gan ie dg) I51 eer ita eur OVO TIL on a a eon a 159 permed Neurotomiy cS. eS Se ee 160 Pere ae NeTILOFO Ty. Us neat. CN era ee er ie 167 Reemoialie Meuroloniy of! yo oo pin AN oe 5 ted £73 meowanenor bibiak Neurotomiy 2.00 ea eS 183 Poeenection of the Ijateral Cartilagés se 185 age esection of the: Flexor Pedis: Tendon 2252.8. 192 fe uputation'of the.Claws of Ruminants_.. 22006420 5. 194 SPE See eatstss CLERICS, S09 000 Fa By SI he 5 SAS tio Nagel 199 EY; EMBRYOTOMY OPERATIONS: mE RECOVERY 15 G42 Joatiets og 2. ec SF cr oN et a 3 Ra 203 MEME API ERTLO TIN «Mi kia we LS 8 SEO FS a kD a pete 205 49. Subcutaneous Amputation of Anterior Limb____________ 206 50. Amputation at the Humero-radial Articulation___________ 208 oeIC RUGS tO (02 iste See Pt oy et ee Wi thd et ee nS 208 52. Destruction of the Pelvic Girdle, Anterior Presentation______ 212 5g. amputation of the Limbs at the Tarsus__..2 2. 216 54. Intra-pelvic Amputation of the Posterior Limbs, Breech Pre- OELUNSN g 2 5 DSR ee SU a AL a, eve a 220 femme ecenieoiual the: Petus.i 90s ~ oS es er ee 229 INTRODUCTION. Many details must be omitted in the succeeding text which are of importance in each operation, but which, if inserted, would render the volume unwieldy in size for the purposes designed. These details are in a measure alike in each case, and it is assumed that the student has already familiarized himself with them. ‘The more important of these may be summa- rized as follows : 1. The subject should be securely confined in each case as directed, because the method designated has been found effective in the operation under description, and serves to fix the relations of the parts in such a way as to conform to the surgical anatomy of the region as outlined in the text. It is to be constantly borne in mind that a change in the atti- tude of the animal is capable of causing profound alterations in the relations of parts which may greatly embarass the operator, or even prevent his carrying out the operation according to the technic given. In securing an animal for operation we must confine the whole body in a way that will sufficiently control its movements and will insure safety to the patient and operator and the part to be operated upon must be so fixed as to properly limit its motion and in the position which affords the greatest facility for the carrying out of the operation according to the best technic known. 2. Anaesthesia should be carefully carried out everywhere possible, because in addition to the humane sentiments in- volved, the resulting most perfect control of the animal is an essential in aseptic or antiseptic surgery. ‘The student should make a careful study of anaesthesia in these exercises and acquire invaluable experience and confidence for use in actual practice. 3. Disinfection must be scrupulously applied in every de- tail since upon its effectiveness must hang the verdict of INTRODUCTION. 1 success or failure as measured by modern surgical knowl- edge. The operator’s hands and, if need be, his arms should be thoroughly scrubbed with a stiff brush in hot water with soap for a period of fifteen minutes, the finger nails well trimmed and cleansed, and all dirt and old epider- mal scales removed. ‘The parts may then be disinfected by immersing in a hot concentrated solution of permanganate of potassium for ten minutes and then decolorized ina strong solution of oxalic acid in sterile water. Or the hands may be disinfected after the washing with soap and water by im- mersing and scrubbing them for ten minutes in a I to 1000 solution of corrosive sublimate, but in order to make this thoroughly effective the solution needs be alcoholic, or the hands should first be immersed in alcohol, ether, or other substance capable of dissolving fats and permitting the dis- infectant to penetrate the sebaceous glands. Great care should be exercised by the student to not touch any object after the hands have been disinfected for the operation unless it also has been disinfected or sterilized, or in case it becomes necessary to touch objects not sterile, the disinfecting process should be repeated before proceeding further with the oper- ation. ‘This constitutes one of the most difficult of all de- tails for the beginner to acquire, and each failure should be remedied by repeating the disinfection over and over until the habit of maintaining effectual sterilization is acquired and fixed. The operation field should always be carefully shaved be- fore beginning the operation, and the shaved area should always be very ample, so as to insure against contamination from adjacent hairs, as well as to give a clear view of the field. The area should then be disinfected in a reliable manner, that advised for the operator’s hands serving as a type. Whenever circumstances will permit the operation field should be kept in an antiseptic bath or pack for twenty- four hours prior to the operation in order that the deeper parts of the skin, especially the hair follicles and sebaceous x INTRODUCTION. glands, shall become thoroughly disinfected, a process well nigh impossible in a short period. The suturing, dressing and bandaging of the wound should be carried out carefully in every case and no opera- tion left without completing it in the best manner possible. The student should make each operation as real as possible and not omit any detail, even if he thinks he already knows it sufficiently well, as the repetition of a supposedly familiar detail serves an important purpose in the fixing of a habit which is inestimably more valuable to the surgeon than any theoretical knowledge of technic. The safe surgeon is he who has so accustomed himself to the technic of asepsis and antisepsis that he carries them out rigidly in an automatic manner and can leave his atten- tion riveted on the surgical problems before him. The student who consults his interests will go yet farther and prior to undertaking any operation on the living subject will study the regional anatomy of the part on the cadaver and learn therefrom all that he can of the structure of the part which he must finally complete upon the living animal. No dissection of the cadaver can ever teach true surgical structure as the dead tissues can not be like the living, but such dissection can and does give great aid and should be pursued as far as it can lead and enough will still remain to be learned on the living subject. He should further take occasion to study in connection with each operation the object or objects for which it is performed in practice, its effect on the diseased or other parts, the untoward results to be anticipated, etc. Suggestions occur from time to time in the text designed to aid the student in these lines and help weave connecting bands between the operation, its objects and results. Surgical operations are in themselves valueless or worse and acquire value only when properly correlated to disease and skillfully performed. Surgical and Obstetrical Operations. 1 oURGICAL OPERATIONS. OPERATIONS ON THE HEAD. LuB x ERACTION OF TEETH PEATE I: Prefatory remarks. ‘The grinding teeth of the horse, consisting of three molars and three premolars in each row, are of such dimensions and attachments that their removal in case of disease or defect often presents difficulties of no small degree. These teeth attain their greatest size at the time of erup- tion and most of each remains firmly imbedded in its alveolus while a very shallow crown projects into the buccal cavity. The teeth are gradually pushed out of their alveoli as their crowns are worn away with age and the proportion of the intra to the extra-alveolar part gradually decreases until in very old animals the alveolar cavities become obliter- ated and the last vestige of what was once the apex of the fang rests insecurely in the buccal mucous membrane. The facility with which teeth may be extracted increases as the age of the animal, being easily drawn with forceps in the old, while in case of freshly erupted teeth in the young horse we have usually been unable to extract them with forceps of any kind, except in those where they have become somewhat loosened as a result of disease or accident. When aberrations in development occur, leading to the for- mation of dental tumors or odontomes the possibility of ex- traction by means of forceps is frequently wholly excluded and in cases where dental disorder has led to empyema of the facial sinuses, even if the tooth may be drawn by means of forceps, further operation is generally necessary, in order 2 EXTRACTION OF TEETH. to assure a prompt recovery, by the removal of the effects of the disease of the tooth. The removal of molars may therefore involve extraction with forceps, trephining the dental alveolus and repulsion of the tooth and trephining of the sinuses because of em- pyema or other pathologic conditions referable to the dental affection ; consequently all of these should be studied as re- lated topics. Instruments. Extracting forceps, fulcra of various sizes, mouth speculum with abundant lateral working room, exporteur forceps, toothpick, splinter forceps, reflecting lamp. Technic. In simple cases with a quiet animal the pa- tient may be sufficiently confined by being backed into a corner or very much better by securing in stocks. In com- plicated cases or very resistant animals it is best to place upon the operating table or in default of this, cast and secure in lateral decubitis on the sound side. Apply the speculum and identify the diseased tooth by manual exploration ; determine if the tooth is of unnatural size or form, if itis loose, if the gums are separated from the neck at any point, if it is out of line with the other teeth in the row, if it 1s painful to the touch, if it be split, ete. Am external tooth fistula or a tumefaction over the affected member may aid in distinguishing it. Aid may also be had by illuminating the mouth with a reflecting electric or other lamp. | Remove any accumulations of partially masticated food by means of the toothpick or with the fingers. In applying the forceps, have an assistant draw the tongue out at the commissure of the lips on the side oppo- site to the affected member and introducing one hand into the mouth, place the index finger on the posterior border of the diseased tooth and with the other, push the opened forceps backward upon the dental row until they reach it, then firmly grasp the diseased tooth with the instrument, \ EXTRACTION OF TEETH. 3 pressing the jaws down as deeply as possible against the alveolus. In many cases the diseased tooth can be clearly seen, especially with the aid of the reflecting lamp, and the forceps may be readily applied by visual aid and this is frequently preferable to the sense of touch. Withdraw the free hand from the mouth, grasp the handles firmly and loosen the tooth in itsalveolus by establishing and maintain- ing as long as necessary a gentle to and fro lateral move- ment. ‘The tooth is thus loosened in its alveolus by caus- ing it to revolve very slightly back and forth on its long axis, thereby spreading the cavity. When the tooth has become well loosened, as indicated by its revolving with the forceps and by the audible crepitant sound caused by the passage of air bubbles to and fro through the blood and lymph in the alveolus, maintain the forceps in position with one hand and with the other introduce the fulcrum to a point where the depression on its superior surface will receive the projecting rivet-head of the instrument or in an otherwise secure position and give it a safe support, while the inferior surface rests evenly upon the crown of a tooth anterior to that which it is desired to extract, as is shown in Plate I. The fulcrum needs be held firmly in place in order to prevent it from gliding forward under pressure. In extracting the first premolars there is no opportunity for resting a fulcrum on teeth anterior thereto and con- sequently forceps have been made with fulcra beyond the forceps jaws resting upon teeth more posteriorly situated. This is not essential. If the tooth is thoroughly loosened, as it should be, one hand placed in the interdental space with the dorsal surface against the jaw and the volar grasp- ing the instrument, will serve as an effective fulcrum. In other cases an iron or steel fulcrum is not essential, but a stick of hard wood of proper size and form acts quite as efficiently and may even keep its position better because the teeth upon which it rests sink into it somewhat. On PEATE 4. EXTRACTION OF TEETH. Sagittal section through the oral cavity, show- ing plan for extracting the third inferior pre- molar, viewed from within the mouth. A Forceps jaws applied to third premolar. B Fulcrum resting upon first premolar. CC, Plates of mouth speculum resting up- on incisor teeth. UEZD EXTRACTION OF TEETH. | the whole the fulcrum is not so important as some have considered it, since, atter a tooth is loose enough to be drawn with its aid, a very trifling additional loosening will permit it to be easily lifted from its alveolus without it. The tooth fang is extracted by forcing the handles of the forceps toward the jaw in which it is located, so that as it is gradually drawn out the forceps tend to pivot on the fulcrum in a way to permit it to emerge from the alveolus in the direction of its long axis. By referring to Plate II it will be seen that the axes of the different teeth vary, that of the molars being obliquely forwards towards the incisors while the crowns of the premolars are directed obliquely backwards toward the molars. The slant of the teeth is most marked at the ends of each arcade while at the middle they acquire a practically perpendicular position. In drawing the last molar the forceps will generally strike against the opposite dental arcade before the tooth has completely emerged from its alveolus andin order to com- plete its removal it may be necessary to take a deeper hold with the extracting forceps or withdrawing these complete the operation with the aid of exporteur forceps, or still better frequently with the hand. In young horses where the teeth are very long we have found it impossible to complete the extraction until the tooth had been divided transversely by means of the tooth cutting forceps. The dangers in the extraction of teeth are chiefly : 1. The fracture of the tooth, leaving the fang still fixed in the alveolus, a danger not infrequently unavoidable when the crown has become greatly weakened by disease so that it lacks the power of resistance necessary to its extrac- tion ; under most other conditions it may be largely guarded against by the careful securing of the patient in a manner to effectively prevent sudden throwing of the head while the forceps are applied, and by using good judgment in the amount of force exerted while loosening the tooth in its 8 REPULSION OF TEETA. alveolus. As stated above we should not expect to be able to extract with forceps the teeth of very young horses which have not become partly detached by disease or in which the fangs are the seat of adontomes. 2. Fracture of the alveolar walls is an accident which may generally be prevented by proper care in the application of force and the avoidance of any attempt to extract a tooth when theexistence of an enlargement of the fang is apparent or suspected. 3. The tooth may slip from the forceps into the pharynx and be swallowed, an accident avoidable by inserting the hand into the mouth along with the forceps as the tooth be- gins to emerge and if need be grasp it with the fingers. 2. REPULSION OF TEETH. Pee IO Uses. ‘The removal of molars, pre-molars, tooth fangs from which the crowns have been broken away, alveolar odontomes, etc., which can not be removed safely by means of the forceps. Instruments. Razor, convex scalpels, trephine, bone gouge, Luer’s sharp bone forceps, (rongeur forceps) light and heavy bone chisels, mallet, tooth punch, curette, com- pression artery forceps, scissors, needles, thread, absorbent cotton, antiseptic gauze, extracting forceps, splinter forceps, tenacula, metal probe, mouth speculum. Technic. Secure the animal in the lateral recumbent position with the affected side up. The operating table affords by far the best means for securing for the conven- ience and safety of operator and patient. If the sinuses are so involved as to make possible the inhalation of pus, blood or other injurious matter, perform tracheotomy in ample time to avert danger. Anzesthetize locally or generally as required. Shave and disinfect the operative area and \ REPULSION OF TEETH. 9 trephine according to the method described in the following chapter down through the alveolar plate immediately over the fang of the affected tooth. Avoid dulling the trephine by striking it against the tooth fang itself. If an external fistula exists the identity of the affected tooth is best determined by passing a metallic probe through it against the diseased fang while one hand is passed into the mouth and the location of the probe more fully ascertained. Care should be exercised in trephining to not injure the adjoining teeth. After removing the disc of bone isolated by the trephine, control all hemorrhage and then enlarge the open- ing and remove the bony tissues till the tooth fang is bared its entire width. Insert a scalpel or bone chisel between the bone and soft tissues at the margin of the trephine opening nearest the mouth and with one hand in the oral cavity with the fingers resting upon the alveolar border on the lateral side of the tooth to serve as a guide; push the scalpel or chisel along between the bone and soft tissues until it emerges from the gums alongside the affected tooth and extend this separation backwards and forwards until the soft tissues are completely detached from the alveolar wall over the entire area of the diseased member. When operating upon the superior molars the fangs of which are covered by the zygomatic ridge, the chiselor scapel cannot be pushed directly from the trephine opening into the mouth between the soft tissues and the bone because the line is concave instead of direct. In these cases it is best to detach the soft parts only from the zygoma at first and then remove the alveolar plate of the ridge, after which the line into the mouth is direct and the instrument can then be readily pushed between the soft and osseous tissues for the remainder of the distance and the separation completed. In operating upon the inferior molars covered by the masseter an opening may be made near its lower border large enough to admit the trephine or the muscle may be ‘QAIOU [BLOVJII} JO UOISTAIp Are [Ixeu roliedns Jo yinpuoo ‘N ‘snais Arel[Ixem Joleyar “g { snuls Arel[Ixeut zoiadns ‘y ‘ uorsjndar soy uvjd ajersn{[I 0} a1eq ple, siejom pry} pue sig pue siejomeid puooas aq} 4}IM ‘asi0y po ead Inoj jo peaH] ‘SUVIOW AO NOISINdAYy ‘II ALVWId CLES LELL LL LUN ey stpneromesegeneen speed TMI orepsese pe OR rwemupee wees: Yfteiaetr ea. REPULSION OF LLETE, Lg detached at its point of insertion and two parallel incisions carried upwards a short distance, permitting the raising of a flap or what is generally best, a curved incision is made along its antero-inferior border parallel to the parotid duct and satellite vessels and just anterior to them (or posteri- or if preferred ) and the muscle lifted up and drawn back- wards sufficiently exposing the parts. With a light, narrow bone chisel cut away and remove the external alveolar plate over the entire extent of the tooth, from the oral margin of the trephine opening into the mouth cavity. Hold the chisel so that the outer edge is inclined from the affected tooth toward the adjoining one, thus making a bevelled channel through the alveolar plate tending to loosen the isolated section of bone by driving it outwards. Drive the chisel for a short distance on one side, then upon the other, and thus break the alveolar plate away in small sections and avoid an extension of the fracture to neighboring alveoli and damage to adjacent teeth. Care should be taken that the bone chisel is sharp otherwise extensive fractures of the bone may occur. With gouge and chisel remove all remnants of bone over the lateral side of the tooth laying it completely bare as shown in Plate II. ‘The soft tissues of the part should not be dis- turbed beyond the excision of the circular piece, correspond- ing to the disk of bone removed by the trephine and the detaching of them from the portion of bone to be chiseled away. When the tooth has been bared so that every part of its lateral surface can be seen or felt, the punch may be placed against the end of the fang, a few firm, quick blows given with the mallet, so directed that the force is in a line with the long axis of the tooth, and the organ driven into the mouth where it is seized by the forceps or the hand and removed. If it is not readily and safely dislodged in this way, place the heavy bone chisel against it and with the aid of the mallet comminute the tooth by breaking it 14 REPOLSION ‘OF TEETH. transversely and splitting it longitudinally, in which pro- cess the fragments are generally loosened and can then be readily removed with the aid of the gouge or heavy dress- ing or splinter forceps. Remove carefully all fragments of tooth or of loosened bone, cleanse and disinfect the wound, pack with iodoform gauze and dress daily. In cases where a fistulous opening remains after repulsion of molars without the removal of the alveolar wall, or if a tooth has been drawn by means of the forceps and the alveolus fails to heal, the bony plate should be removed in the above manner. Dangers. Wounding of the adjoining tooth is to be avoided chiefly by carefully locating the fang of the affected one and placing the instrument as exactly as possible over its centre, by using a trephine not exceeding 2 to 5 cm. in diameter and cautiously sawing through the compact layer of the external plate only. removing the cancellated tissue with the gouge and extending the opening in the desired direction after the outlines of the tooh fang have been clearly determined. If an adjoining fang is wounded, the tooth should be removed as it will not heal but will result in a permanent tooth fistula. Fracture of the alveolar walls of the inferior maxilla may occur during the removal of the external alveolar plate with the chisel or of the repulsion of the tooth with the punch and mallet. The first is to be averted by care in having the chisel sharp, by observing the precaution of making a bevelled cut through the bone, by using only moderate blows and driving the instrument alternately for a short distance on each side. The second danger of ex- tensive fracture may be averted by being cautious to see after each stroke on the punch that it has not slipped in- ward along the median side of the tooth, pressing the in- ternal plate away from the tooth row and tending to pro- duce a longitudinal fracture nearly or quite as long as the \ REPOL SION OF TEETH. BS dental arcade. Careful digital exploration in the mouth may discover this fracture while still ‘‘simple’’ but a stroke or two more will convert it into the very much more serious “‘compound ’’ fracture opening into the oral cavity. Keeping one hand constantly in the mouth at the point of impact is always desirable as a precautionary measure. ‘Transverse fracture of the tooth while yet in situ by means of the bone chisel, as above described, is a great safeguard against this injury by lessening the force required in repulsion and by the removal of the tapering fang, which then leavesa more secure base for the punch to act upon. Itshould never be forgotten that the impact from the punch must always be as nearly parallel to the long axis of the tooth as is possible. The fracture of the superior maxilla and bony palate is not so probable as the preceding and is preventable by mod- erate care in the denuding of the tooth before punching, by comminution of the tooth in bad cases, by the careful ad- justment of the punch and applying the force in the proper direction. Literature. Odontomes, Sir Bland Sutton, Jour. Comp. Dieo..and Vet, Arch;-Vol. XII:-p. 1; A Clinical Study of Odontomes, W. L. Williams, Am. Vet. Review, Vol. XV, p.1 ; Notes on Odontomes, do ; Am. Vet. Rev. Vol. XXIII, p. 82 and Oest. Mon. Thierheilkunde, Bd. XXIV, s. 122. 16 TRE PHINING OF THE FACIAL SINUSES. TREPHINING OF THE FACIAL SINUSES. PLATES; LIL, LV; Vy Vig Vill anpe VIEL Prefatory Note. ‘The facial sinuses of the horse consti- tute an exceedingly intricate and extensive group of cavities, communicating more or less freely with each other and with the exterior through the medium of the upper air passages, of which they are to be regarded as a part. Their arrangement and relations permit them to frequently become the seat of, or central figure in many forms of disease which require for their differential diagnosis, amelioration or cure, the operation known astrephining. Their extent and relations to each other and to surrounding parts varies greatly with age and may be profoundly changed as a result of disease, amounting not infrequently in the frontal, superior and inferior maxillary sinuses ceasing to exist as separate cavities and becoming merged into one vast diverti- culum. Similar changes may occur in the nasal and tur- binated cavities. The general position, extent and relations of these are indicated by Plates IV, V, VI, VII and VIII. It is to be noted that in cross sections the superior and inferior maxillary sinuses appear to be reversed in relation to their nomenclature. It is difficult to make a cross sec- tion of these sinuses in such a manner that the superior sinus does not show between the inferior one and the oral cavity. The inferior maxillary sinus is zz/evzor in the sense that it is nearer to the nasal opening so that with the head in a vertical position or in a longitudinal section the inferior sinus is below the superior, while if the head be placed horizontally or a cross section made the superior sinus is below the inferior. The uses of trephining are in a measure common to all the sinuses and are chiefly for the relief of empyema of the cavities involved, necrosis of the bony or cartilaginous walls, tumors of various kinds, especially dental in the young and malignant growths in the old, foreign bodies in the sinuses, differential diagnosis of diseases of this region, ete. TRECPHINING OF THE PACTAL ‘SINUSES. 1 Veterinarians trephine the sinuses by two fundamentally different plans ; with, and without excision of the cutaneous disk corresponding to the piece of the bone removed. The first is gererally used in Great Britain and North America, while the last is the prevailing method in continental Europe and other parts of the world. The reason assigned for these variations in method are conflicting. To us there seem to be adequate reasons for preferring the excision of the cutaneous disk. We regard as the chief considerations in an operation the following : the avoidance of infection ; the prevention of pain during the operation or the after- treatment ; the reduction of the scar toa minimum ; rapidity and certainty of recovery ; convenience in operating and dressing. Infection is largely dependent, aside from aseptic operation and protective dressing, upon the area of the wound, the facility for maintaining cleanliness and the degree of disturbance to the tissues while being dressed. The wound area in the bone is alike in all cases but that in the skin varies greatly. If we take as a type the usual European technic and compare it with that given below we would find the wound areas approximately as follows: in the European method 2.2 sq. in. while in the operation as given below we have only about .44 sq. in. or proportion- ately the wound area in the soft tissues in the European operation to that given below would be as 5:1. It is very evident that the technic given below affords immeasureably better facility for maintaining cleanliness in the wound and with a minimum amount of insult to the tissues in the process of dressing. The amount of pain caused in the operation would depend chiefly upon the extent of the skin incision which is equal in the two plans so that the only difference would be in the dissection of the skin from the bone in the. European operation. The pain caused in dressing must be greater in the European method because the detached, overhanging 2 18 TREPHINING OF THE FACIAL SINUSES. skin must be moved and disturbed each time causing pain and inviting infection. The question of pain must always be seriously considered as it not only affects the time re- quired for dressing and its efhcacy, but has an important relation to the docility of the animal after recovery, some horses having their dispositions permanently ruined by the irritation due to the oft repeated painful dressing of wounds. The cicatricial contraction of the tissues of the horse is so great that the removal of a circular disk of skin 7% to 1% in. in diameter on the face does not leave a visible scar so that the question of blemish falls back upon that of in- fection, which, as we have asserted above is far more probable by the European method. The rapidity and certanity of recovery are dependent upon the considerations above discussed. The removal of the cutaneous disk is certainly easier and quicker than the other method. ‘The convenience for dressing is evidently superior by the English and American method. The opening of the maxillary sinuses into the nostrils is based upon the surgical principle that suppurating cavities should be provided with ample drainage from the most dependent part. The direction to leave the external wound open, at first thought seems antagonistic to general surgical principles but it should be remembered that the wound consists only of the incision through the skin, connective tissue and bone, and that any plug which we can put in this opening can only serve to dam back the secretions of the cavity and can not prevent it from coming in contact with the wounded surface. It must further be regarded that the respiratory mucosa of the upper air passages are not irritated or injured in any manner so far as we can ob- serve clinically by the direct admission of air into them through a trephine, or other artificial opening, but on the contrary the suppuration in asinus is constantly aggravated by the retention of the pus and exclusion of air and re- covery facilitated by thorough drainage and. aeration. TREPHINING OF THE FRONTAL SINUSES. 19 3. TREPHINING OF THE FRONTAL SINUSES. PLATES TH VITE. Uses. Fracture of the bony walls, necrosis, tumors. The ample communication below with the superior maxillary sinuses prevents the accumulation of pus or fluids in the frontal cavities even if formed therein unless the former become filled and the contents back up into the latter. In the case of empyema of the frontal sinus, trephin- ing does not generally give full relief but calls for a re- petition of the operation on the maxillary sinuses also. Instruments. Razor, scissors, convex scalpels, artery forceps, tenacula, probe, trephine, curette, gouge, Luer’s sharp bone forceps (rongeur forceps), hammer, chisel, bone screw, lens-shaped bone knife, probe-pointed bistoury, dressing forceps, disinfecting and dressing materials. Technic. The operation may be performed upon the standing animal with the aid of local anaesthesia of the skin, the bone having virtually no sensation. Restless animals may be further secured with the twitch, in the stocks, upon the operating table or by casting on the sound side. Clip and shave the hair from the region of the front- al bone on a level with the superior border of the orbital cavity as indicated in Plate III or at any point below on a line extending from F toward a point midway between N and I M down to a level with the dotted line, S M, and dis- infect the area carefully. F represents the highest point at which the frontal sinus can be penetrated without injury to the cranium. ~ Within the shaved and disinfected area locate the point for trephining, F, Plate III so that the in- ferior border of the opening on a medium sized horse will be not higher than on a level with the superior border of the orbital cavity at the dotted line below F and the inner margin about 1 em. from the median line of the face. With a heavy convex scalpel make a circular incision as large as the area of the trephine, directly through the skin, subcutem PEATE Lu: TREPHINING THE FACTAL SINUSES. F, highest point at which an opening may be made into the frontal sinus without wounding the cranium and brain; N, opening into nasal sinus; SM, opening into superior maxillary sinus ; IM, opening into external portion of in- ferior maxillary sinus; IM’, opening into the median portion of the inferior maxillary sinus. = Yo . I [ én a ee | ae | | oo iy Nena, eae kee - De alr ne ia h ne ON ae TREPHINING OF THE FRONTAL SINUSES. 23 and periosteum down to the bone and remove in one piece the entire mass of encircled soft tissues by seizing the skin with a tenaculum and forcibly separating the periosteum. from the bone with a scalpel or bone scraper. Control the hemorrhage. With the centre extended place the trephine accurately upon the denuded area perpendicular to the surface of the bone and grasping the handle firmly turn it to and fro until the bit has penetrated the bony plate and the saw has cut a distinct groove to serve as a guide when the center should be retracted and the operation con- tinued until the disc of bone is detached, being careful to maintain the trephine prependicular to the surface. ‘The operation is facilitated by grasping the shaft of the trephine between the thumb and fingers of one hand, constituting a support in which it can glide back and forth. The pressure under which the sawing is carried out must not be too great. When the bony plate which has been isolated begins to loosen, remove the trephine and insert the bone screw into the centerbit opening and break out the piece of bone or pry it out with the bone gouge or chisel. Smooth any uneven edges of bone with the lens-shaped knife. The ab- normal contents of the frontal sinus can now escape through the opening or be removed with the curette, forceps or scis- sors, and the cavity irrigated with an antiseptic fluid. Leave the trephine wound entirely open and dress daily with anti- septics. The frontal sinuses being in free communication with the superior maxillary, and the superior turbinated bone of the same side forming its median wall, indirectly the irrigating fluid can escape through the nasal opening by way of the former or by a perforation through the latter. In order to prevent the aspiration of the contents, which are generally purulent, or may consist of blood or irri- gating fluids, and to facilitate their escape, irrigation should be carried out with the poll elevated and the head flexed. PLATE LV. TREPHINING OF FACIAL SINUSES. Cross section of the right half of the head of a horse at the posterior border of the last molar, F, frontal sinus ; IM, lateral portion of inferior maxillary sinus at extreme posterior or superior part; IM’, median portion do.; N, nasal chamber opposite the communication between it and the superior maxillary sinus ; NF, con- duit of superior maxillary branch of the trifacial nerve; S M, superior maxillary sinus; M?, fragment of last molar. TREPHINING OF THE FRONTAL SINUSES. Py | By studying Plates [V—VII it will be seen that any collec- tion of pus or other disease products at F would result in poor drainage so far as may be obtained by trephining through the external wall only, and consequently in order to com- plete it aside from that through the superior maxillary sinus an artificial communication between it and the nasal fossa may be made at ST, Plate VIII by a second opening oppo- site that point near the median line midway between F and N, Plate III, and then breaking through the thin walls of the turbinated bone by means of a probe or other suitable instrument and enlarging it sufficiently with the probe pointed bistoury or with the finger. In locating the exact point for making this opening in the turbinated bone it is advisable to passa slightly curved heavy probe, a pair of long curved uterine dressing forceps or some other slightly curved and somewhat rigid instrument up the nostril to the operative region and having an index finger in the sinus against the median wall, the movements of the sound can easily be felt and the wall be broken down either by pushing the sound up into the sinus or thrusting the finger downwards into the nasal passage. In order to prevent aspiration of fluids, the animal must be allowed to get up immediately or if under anaesthesia a trachea tube should be inserted sufficiently early to avoid danger. Thread a long probe with a heavy suture about 75 cm. long and inserting it through the trephine opening into the nasal passage draw it out through the nostril and removing the probe, attach a strip of gauze 75 cm. long to one end of the suture, draw it out through the nostril and tie the ends together on the side of the face to prevent dis- lodgement. Retain the gauze in position for about forty- eight hours to insure the permanency of the opening through the turbinated bone. In case of severe hemorrhage the cavity can be tamponed for twenty-four hours with a long strip of gauze which may be secured if necessary by sutur- PLATE V. TREPHINING THE FACIAL SINUSES. Cross section of the left side of the head of an aged horse at the second molar, seen from the front. F, frontal sinus ; N, nasal sinus, oppo- site the communication between the nasal and inferior maxillary sinuses; IM, lateral portion of inferior maxillary sinus ; IM’, median portion of inferior maxillary sinus ; SM, superior max- illary sinus ; NF, superior maxillary division of trifacial nerve in its bony conduit ; SZ, subzygo- matic artery ; P, palatine artery ; M2, second molar. TREPHINING THE MAXILLARY SINUSES. 31 ing to the lips of the wound. In practice the operation can be best carried out generally with the animal in the standing position the operative area being first anaesthetized by the use of cocaine or by inducing artificial oedema. In the standing position we largely avoid the danger of aspira- tion of fluids and the hemorrhage is greatly lessened. 4. TREPHINING THE MAXILLARY SINUSES. PLATES III-VIII. Uses. Empyema, diseased teeth, odontomes, tumors. Instruments. Same as for the frontal sinuses. Anatomically there are two maxillary sinuses, superior, SM, and inferior, IM, Plates III-VII, having a thin im- perforate bony partition between them. This partition shifts somewhat in position with age and in case of disease undergoes profound changes in location and is frequently totally obliterated in cases of empyema, dental cysts and other affections. If present, good drainage of the superior sinus may demand its surgical destruction so that some authors advise trephining directly over it in order to open the two cavities simultaneously. In extensive disease the prior destruction of the partition renders such an aim super- fluous ; in limited disease the opening of both cavities is ill advised. The partition may be ignored in operating for extensive disease and the trephine opening be aimed at the probable focus of the malady and, if missed, it should be located through the primary, or what now becomes an ex- ploratory opening, and a second operation made to directly reach the seat of the affection and if need be, yet a third to secure proper drainage. Shave and disinfect as much of the area as may be required bounded above by the inferior border of the orbital cavity, laterally by the zygomatic ridge, inferiorly by the lower end of the zygoma and medianwards by the middle line of the face. Determine 32 TREPHINING THE MAXILLARY SINUSES. the proper point for operation by percussion or otherwise. If it is desired to enter only the superior maxillary sinus, SM, Plates III-VII locate the opening immediately beneath the orbital cavity and in front of the zygomatic ridge, SM, Plate III, or at any point directly beneath this to midway between SM and IM, Plate III, at about the level of the dotted line IM’. ~Inorder to penetrate the inferior maxillary sinus at its lowest part, the trephine opening needs be located just in front of the lower end of the zygomatic ridge at IM, Plate III, or on a line obliquely upwards there- from as far as the furrow marking the suture between the maxillary and nasal bones at IM’. The trephining is carried out as described for the frontal sinuses. After the trephining has been completed remove any purulent collect- ion or tumors or carry out any other necessary operation in the affected sinuses and after cleansing, if the trephine opening does not insure perfect drainage of the lateral sac, either lower it by cutting away its inferior border with the bone forceps or make a second one at the necessary point. Under the influence of disease the sinuses may extend far beyond their normal location or may contract or become largely obliterated by being filled with new bone or soft tissue. The median portion of the sinuses on the inner side of the bony conduit of the trifacial nerve, NF, Plates IV-VII, can not be drained properly through the openings SM and IM Plate III, and provision for this must generally be made by trephining into the inferior maxillary sinus at IM’, Plate III, and then making an opening 3 to 5 cm. in diameter through the inferior turbinated bone at IT, Plate VIII, either with the finger, probe-pointed bistoury, or other suitable instrument, and inserting through this open- ing a long and thick strip of gauze which is brought out through the nostril and the ends tied together on the side of the face to prevent displacement. Retain this in position, renewing daily until the permanency of the opening is as- sured. \ TREPHINING THE MAXILLARY SINUSES. 33 If the partition between the two sinuses is intact it may be necessary to destroy it immediately above IM’, Plate III, in order to drain the median portion of the superior maxil- lary sinus if that is required. If a molar has been removed and in so doing the bony wall leading down from the nerve conduit, NF, Plates IV—VII, destroyed in the operation, sufficient drainage may be afforded into the mouth and the opening through the turbinated bone rendered unnecessary. It generally occurs in extensive empyema of the sinuses that an opening in the turbinated bone takes place by necrosis and in some cases affords the desired drainage while in the majority the pathologic opening is so placed that it is incomplete. Leave all wounds entirely open and irrigate daily with antiseptic solutions. Dangers. Care must be exercised to not injure the superior maxillary division of the trifacial nerve, NF, Plates IV-VII, either in trephining or after the sinuses have been opened. The bony conduit of this nerve is in rare cases entirely resorbed by pressure from dental cysts or other causes, leaving it stretched across the cavity as a white nacrous cord, intensely sensitive. Any injury to this nerve causes intense pain and renders the animal very resistant to the necessary manipulations in the after care of the wound and may leave it pernamently nervous about the handling of its face. Hemorrhage is generally not severe and may occur from the skin, where it should be controlled by compression or ligation ; from the inter-osseous vessels, where it may be checked by pressure with absorbent cotton, by pushing a small portion of cotton into the channel of the vessel with a needle or tenaculum or by plugging the vessel with a conical piece of wood ; from the wounded turbinated bones where it may be stopped by packing with cheese cloth. These tampons should be removed after twenty-four hours. 3 PEATE VE TREPHINING THE FACIAI, SINUSES. Cross section downwards and _ backwards oblique through the half of the head at the first molar in a two year colt. F, frontal sinus ; N, nasal passage at point of communication with the inferior maxillary sinus, 1M ; IM', median portion of inferior maxillary sinus; SM, ex- treme lower end of superior maxillary sinus opened ; M1, first molar; M2 second molar; P, palatine artery ; SZ, sub-zygomatic artery. Rg ag te 9: an Weenie abel. ead nae TREPHINING THE NASAL FOSSAEL. 37 5. TREPHINING THE NASAL, FOSSAE. Uses. Operations on the septum nasi, upon the tur- binated bones, the removal of tumors or foreign bodies. Instruments. Same as for the frontal sinuses. Technic. ‘The trephining is carried out by the method described above, in the region of the nasal bone, close by the median line of the face and according to indications at any point from a level of the dotted line, SM, Plate III, to the upper extremity of the false nostril. The operation should be immediately against the median line since other- wise the frontal or superior turbinated sinuses may be opened, the highly vascular superior turbinated bone wounded or an important inter-osseous artery in the nasal, just above its union with the superior turbinated, bone as shown in Plate VI, may be served. Special care is also necessary that the trephining should not be carried too deeply and that the osseous disc be carefully removed in order to avoid wounding the highly vascular turbinated bone, which lies in close proximity to it. The operative area is narrow and the trephine used should not exceed 2 cm. in diameter. Whenever possible the operation should be carried out on the standing animal which decreases the hemorrhage and the danger from aspiration of fluids. The hemorrhage may be further controlled in operations upon the septum nasi and turbinated bones by spraying the parts with adrenaline chloride and cocaine. Hven in the standing animal, if extensive operations are to be carried out on the very vascular septum nasi or on the turbine it is generally advisable to preform trachetomy before trephining, and re- tain the trachea tube in position until all danger has passed. When the animal is confined in the recumbent position the patient’s safety demands that tracheotomy be performed before the operation is begun in almost all cases. Anaes- thesia may be maintained in such cases by means of an ordinary funnel with its tube bent at right angles and in- PrAre VLE TREPHINING OF FACIAL SINUSES. Cross section of the left side of the head anterior to the last molar, and through the widest part of the inferior maxillary sinus. M_’, last superior molar ; SM, superior maxillary sinus at its antero-inferior extremity ; IM, in- ferior maxillary sinus, lateral portion ; IM’, do. median portion ; N, nasal fossa ; S, sound Jodged in lachrymal duct; NF, trifacial nerve; F, frontal sinus. POLL FVILsOPERATION. 4I serted into the trachea tube while the chloroform is dropped on a towel spread over its mouth. After completing any required operation on the septum, turbinated bones or other parts, hemorrhage may be controlled by plugging one or both nasal fossae with single strips of gauze of sufficient size and carefully securing them by sutures to the sides of the trephine wound or otherwise. 6. POLL EVIL OPERATION. PEATE VIET: Instruments. Clipping shears, razor, sharp scalpels, probe-pointed bistoury, probe, Luer’s bone forceps, bone gouge, curette, suture and dressing material. Technic. Confine the animal in lateral decubitis prefer- ably upon the operating table, place under complete anaes- thesia and remove the halter or other headgear. Clip the foretop and mane and shave the forehead and the top of the neck back to a distance of 8 or 10 cm. or as much farther as may be required to pass beyond and be- hind the supposed extension of disease, and disinfect the area. With sharp scalpel make a longitudinal incision on the median line of the head and neck beginning at a point presumably posterior to the diseased area and carry- ing it over the poll down onto the forehead for a distance of 4 or 5 cm. below the foretop. Continue this incision through the skin, the subcutem, the adipose tissue, AT, Plate VIII and either through or passing around alongside the neck ligament, LN, into the diseased area beneath the latter. Dissect the ligamentum nuchz away from the ad- joining tissuesvas far back as diseased and divide obliquely upward and backward as indicated at AA, and detach anteriorly from the base of the occiput. Be careful to re- ‘a8essed [eseu 917} OUI snats Ale[[IxXem JO1ajUI 9} TWO 9u0G payeUiqin} JoLejur Ysno1q}, Ssuruedo ‘TJ + suoq payeulq -1n} 1oledns ay} YSno14q} snuis [esea OyUT [e}UOIy MOIy Suuedo ‘].S ‘SHSONIS ’IVIOVH HHL ONINIHdHAYL, ‘anssij asodipe ‘Ly { aeyqonu wnyuomesiy ‘N’T ¢ [JA9 [od 105 ore -tado UI UOIS|OUL Jo AUT, ‘YY *4deU pue pedy ay} JO OTDaS [B}ISES ‘NOILVUHdIO ‘IAA ‘VIO"d ‘TIA HLW Id LIGATION OF THE PAROTID DUCT. 45 move every portion of the ligament in the area indicated and all calcareous deposits or diseased tissues. With Luer’s forceps groove a channel about 2 cm. wide from behind to before directly upon the median line through the occipital protuberance to the depth of about 2 cm. making the bottom as near as possible on a level with the wound in the soft tissues as indicated by the dotted line, AA. Using Luer’s forceps as a curette detach all vestiges of the neck ligament from the base of the occiput and leave the bone bare and smooth. If the Luer or ronguer forceps are not available the grooving of the occiput may be accomplished with a strong curved bone gouge. Be careful to avoid penetrating the cranial cavity or the occipito-atloid articulation. Con- trol the hemorrhage, cleanse and disinfect the wound, pack with iodoform gauze and suture for its entire length except the anterior part, where the tampon should slightly pro- trude, and dust the margin of the wound with iodoform and tannin. Remove the tampon after forty-eight hours and dress antiseptically daily. The sutures may or may not be removed according to conditions. Incarrying out this operation our chief aim should be to remove all diseased parts, to afford perfect drainage anteriorly, to secure and maintain antisepsis, and to keep the wound directly on the median line from which no visible scar will result. 7. LIGATION OF THE .PAROTID: DUCT. PLATE IX: Objects. The destruction of the parotid gland in case of fistula from wounds or abscesses. Instruments. Razor, convex scalpel, straight probe- pointed scalpel, tenaculum forceps, ligation forceps, tenacula needle holder, probe, suture and dressing material. Technic. In case of salivary fistula insert a probe through it into the duct toward the gland and with PLATE Exe: LIGATION OF THE PAROTID DUCT. Pig, 1. Segment of the left ramus of the in- ferior maxilla of the horse seen from the right and beneath. sf, usuai operative field; a, ex- ternal maxillary artery ; v, external ne vein ; s/, st, parotid duct Fig. 2. Life size of operation field at sf, fig. 1; a, external maxillary artery ; v, external eee lary vein ; s¢, parotid duct ; 777, masseter muscle. SL ik rt at tre LIGATION OF THE PAROTID DUCT. 49 a sharp scalpel lay it free for a distanc2 of from 1 to 2 cm. on the glandular side of the fistulous opening. If the fistula has its location on the side of the cheek, cast the horse and shave and disinfect the region on the inferior maxilla where the artery, vein and parotid duct turn around its inferior border. When the operator glides his finger over the vascular region from before backward there is felt a resistant cord, the external maxillary artery about 3 mm, in diameter, pulsating in the living animal. Between this and the oral border of the masseter muscle make an incision about 4 cm. long parallel with the artery through the skin and skin muscle. This incision is more readily made by gathering up a fold of skin about 2 cm. high and cutting through it. Pick up the loose connective tissue with a pair of forceps and excise it. Immediately behind the external maxillary artery, 2, Figs, I and II, Plate IX, is the ex- ternal maxillary vein, v, and behind this and immediately on the border of the masseter muscle lies the parotid duct, st. Incase of salivary calculi which cannot be removed through the mouth and cystic dilation of the parotid duct, make the cutaneous incision at the affected point, open the canal, and after the removal of the calculus, etc., close the duct wound by means of intestinal sutures in such a way that the external surfaces of the lips of the wound in the wall of the duct are brought in contact, or ligate the duct on the proximal side of the point of operation. Ligation is accomplished by passing a strong silk thread behind the duct by means,of a curved aneurism needle carrying the ligature around it and tying with a surgeon’s knot. ‘The parotid duct can also be previously split and an internal wound made at the point of ligation. Close the skin wound by means of a continuous suture and cover the operative surface with iodoform collodion or with wound gelatine. 4 50 ENTROPIUM OPERATION. 8. ENTROPIUM OPERATION. Instruments. Razor, convex scalpel, tenaculum and ligation forceps, tenacula, needle holder, needles, thread, absorbent cotton. Technic. Quiet adult horses may be operated upon in the standing position with the aid of local anaesthesia, other horses and small animals should be secured in lateral re- cumbency preferably upon the operating table. Shave and disinfect the skin of the inverted eyelid. Grasp the skin of the eyelid midway between the inner and outer canthi either with the fingers or the forceps and elevate a skin fold parallel with the border of the eyelid to such a height that the inverted member assumes its normal position. Pass Fie. I. Entropium operation on the superior and inferior eyelids of the dog. one finger into the conjunctival sac to make sure that the conjunctiva is not drawn into the skin fold. Clip the fold off with the scissors immediately below the forceps, remov- ing an oblong piece. Between the border of the eyelid and that of the wound the skin should be left intact for at least .5 cm. Ligate any bleeding vessels and close the wound by means of interrupted sutures. The wound may |l-e covered with iodoform collodion or wound gelatine or dusted over with todoform-tannin. It is usually un- necessary and inadvisable to cover the parts with hood or other appliance since so long as the wound is healing properly the animal will not disturb it. STAPH YLOTOMY. 51 9. STAPHYLOTOMY. Object. An operation devised by Dr. M. H. McKillip for making a manual exploration of the Eustachian tubes, guttural pouches, larynx, pharynx and posterior nares ; and for operations upon these structures. The form and extent of the soft palate of the horse is such as to render it ex- tremely dificult to make a manual exploration of the parts above and behind it, and impossible to make a visual ex- amination except with the aid of the expensive and compli- cated rhino-laryngoscope, which only aids in diagnosis while staphylotomy combines with this operative advantages, per- mitting the free introduction of the hand into the laryngo- pharyngeal region. Instruments. Mouth speculum, short curved probe pointed bistoury with a ring to fit the middle finger. Technic. Cast the patient or secure on the operating table in lateral recumbency and turn the nose upward. Adjust the mouth speculum and open the mouth as wide as possible ; draw the tongue well out with the left hand while the right carrying the knife on the middle finger is passed carefully through the fauces until it hooks over the posterior border of the soft palate. The knife is then gently drawn forward making an incision along the median line of the soft palate from its posterior, free border to its attachment on the palatine bone. The hand is then withdrawn and the speculum removed for a few minutes to permit the patient to rid its pharynx of any blood clots or mucus that may have accumulated. Readjusting the speculum as before, the right hand is again passed through the fauces and now that the palate is divided a digital exploration may perfectly re- veal the presence of any abnormality in the region. BEATE X, TRIFACIAL NEUROTOMY. LL, Levator labii superioris proprii muscle ; IOF, infra-orbital foramen ; NF, superior max- illary division of the trifacial nerve. _TRIFACIAL. NEUROTOMY. 55 lo. -TRIFACIAL “NEUROTOMY. PATE xX. Object. The relief of involuntary shaking of the head. Instruments. Razor, scissors, convex scalpel, tenacula, aneurism needle, compression artery forceps, needles, thread, absorbent cotton, a strong piece of muslin 12 cm. square. Technic. Secure in lateral recumbency, preferably upon the operating table, and produce complete anaesthesia. Re- move the halter, bridle, or other head gear. Shave and disinfect an area 8 to 10 cm. square over the infra-orbital foramen. Locate by touch the infra-orbital foramen, IOF, Plate X, below the levator labi1 superioris proprius muscle and displace this slightly upward toward the median line of the nose until the foramen can be clearly felt below the muscle. With the scalpel begin an incision somewhat superior to the foramen and near its nasal border and make a wound downward and forward in the direction of the comimisure of the lips about 5 cm. long through the skin, muscle and connective tissue down to the nerve and control hemorrhage with the greatest care. If the larger branches of the glosso-facial vessels are severed they should be ligated or twisted. Some times it may be well to ligate these vessels prior to making the incision. Hold the lips of the wound apart with two tenacula, disect away the connective tissue from the nerve until every part of it is clearly in view. Pass an aneurism needle beneath the nerve trunk and lifting it from the bone make a search for a small artery which usually passes along beneath it through the foramen and if this can be found either ligate it immediately at its point of emergence and again 5 cm. lower down and divide between the two ligatures or sepa- rating it from the nerve protect carefully against injury. With a probe-pointed bistoury or scissors sever the nerve at the foramen and grasping the distal end disect away about 5 cm. of the trunk and excise. Be very careful to include all branches and especially one or two superior or dorsal 56 TRIFACIAL NEUROTOMY. twigs which are directed upward near the foramen. After the hemorrhage has been brought under complete control and all blood clots have been removed cleanse the wound carefully and dust over with iodoform and close with con- tinuous sutures. Owing to the great difficulty of securing complete asepsis, it may be better in some cases to not suture but to insert instead an antiseptic tampon retained by sut- ures for 24 hrs. after which remove and dress the wound antiseptically 2 or 3 times daily. In order to protect this first wound during the operation upon the other side take the piece of muslin mentioned among the needs for the operation, and folding it several times in a square, place it over the wound and suture it firmly at each corner. Turn the animal to the opposite side and repeat the operation on the other nerve except the application of the square piece of muslin which is here unnecessary. As soon as the animal stands, remove the protective piece of muslin from the first wound, disinfect both, dust them over with iodoform and tannin or cover with wound gelatine and leave undisturbed to heal by primary union. Avoid halter, bridle or other fixtures which might injure the wounds after the operation. Dangers. The chief danger in the operation is from in- fection, which sets up a severe neuritis in the proximal end of the nerve, aggravates the symptoms and causes much suffering. In order to prevent infection the aseptic precau- tions need be unusually strict in every detail and the anaes- thesia profound. «Carefully avoid wounding the neighbor- ing vessels and control completely any hemorrhage that occurs in order to avoid a hematom in the wound, which would invite infection. i Literature. Involuntary twitching of the head relieved by trifacial neurectomy. W. L,. Williams, Jour. Comp. Med. and V. A., vol. XVIII, p. 426. Involuntary shaking of the head and its treatment by trifacial neurectomy. do. Am, Vet. Rev., vol. XXIII, p. 321 and ist. -Momatsen Thierheilkunde, Bd. XXIV, ’. 211. Il; OPERATIONS ON ‘THE NECK. 11. OPENING OF THE GUTTURAL POUCHES. PLATE XI. Instruments. Razor, scissors, convex pointed and straight probe pointed scalpels, artery forceps, tenacula, probe, trocar, curette, drainage tubing, suture and dressing material. Technic. I. Vzborg’s method. ‘The operation is possible on the standing animal, but generally the patient must be cast or placed on the operating table and secured in lateral decubitis with the head extended. By extending the head and compressing the jugular vein there is brought out the triangle immediately behind the posterior border of the in- ferior maxilla and below the parotid gland comprised be- tween the posterior angle of the inferior maxilla, the terminal tendon of the sterno-maxillaris muscle and the external maxillary vein. In this so-called Viborg’s triangle after the removal of the hair and the disinfection of the skin which is maintained stretched, make a 5 cm. long incision through the skin andskin muscle immediately beneath the afore- mentioned tendon and parallel to it. In case of pronounced swelling in Viborg’s triangle the operator must determine the location for the incision by the position of the sterno- maxillaris muscle. The skin and subcutem having been incised to a sufficient extent, force a passage with the finger or with probe pointed scissors closed or other blunt instru- ment through the loose connective tissue on the median side of the parotid gland, to the guttural pouch and penetrate it at its lowest point with the finger or trocar. In order to open the empty guttural pouch it is desirable to grasp a portion of its wall by means of forceps. Through the operative wound a drainage tube can be introduced into the pouch, and fixed in its position by sutures. The opening PLATE XT. OPENING OF THE GUTTURAL POUCHES (Hyo- YVERTEBROTOMY ) ACCORDING TO VIBORG AND CHABERT. Head and neck of recumbent horse viewed from the side. 57, Stylo maxillaris muscle ; A, parotid gland; /, guttural pouch; &, larynx ; st, sterno-maxillaris muscle; 7, rectus capitus anticus major muscle ; c. external carotid artery ; é, external maxillary artery ; 2, internal maxil- lary artery; v, external maxillary vein; s, probe; a, wing of atlas. — aa OPENING OF THE GUTTURAL POUCHES. 61 can be enlarged in an anter-posterior direction to the extent of 5 to 8 cm. or large enough to admit the operator’s hand. A far more common operation in veterinary practice than the opening of the guttural pouches, is the opening of abscesses of the sub-parotid lymph glands, lying between the inner face of the parotid and the external face of the guttural pouch. ‘The operation here used is the same as Viborg’s for the guttural pouch but does not penetrate that cavity because the inner wall of the abscess has pushed the ex- ternal wall of the pouch inward so that the former largely occupies the usual location of the latter. The dyspnoea generally prohibits casting the animal and necessitates operating in the standing position. In some cases the dyspnoea is so severe as to demand tracheotomy before the opening of the abscess can be undertaken because the ex- citement aggravates the difficult respiration to the point of suffocation. Il. Chabert’s method. Secure the horse in the lateral re- cumbent position, remove the hair and disinfect the skin beneath the wing of the atlas. Make an incision about I em. in front of the lower half of the wing of the atlas and parallel to it, about 6 cm. long extending through the skin and skin muscle down to the parotid gland. ‘The incision is facilitated by rendering the skin tense with the left hand and care is to be taken not to wound the auricular nerve which passes directly along the atlas. Then draw backward the posterior lip of the wound and separate with blunt in- struments the posterior border of the parotid gland from the atlas, to which it is bound by loose connective tissue, and draw it forward with tenacula. At the bottom of the opening thus formed there is seen the stylo-maxillaris muscle, sm, Plate XI, lying against the median side of the parotid gland covered only by the aponeurosis of the mastoido-humeralis muscle, With the handle of the scalpel inclined toward the wing of the atlas penetrate in the 62 OPENING OF THE GUTTURAL POUCHES. direction of their fibers the aponeurotic expansion ofthe mastoido-humeralis, and the stylo-maxillaris muscle. The puncture is thus located between the ninth and tenth nerves on one side and the internal carotid on the other. Since the wall of the guttural pouch rests against the median side of the digastricus muscle it is opened by this incision. The operator inserts an index finger along the blade of the knife at first and then withdrawing the instrument passes the other index finger also in the penetrant wound and by forcibly parting these, dilates it. The abnormal contents are then removed by means of forceps, curetting and irrigation. In order to prevent adhesion of the wound lips in the firmly stretched stylo-maxillaris muscle, introduce a strong drain- age tube into the pouch and fix it to the external borders of the wound by a suture. Ill. Dieterich’s method. ‘This combines the operations under I and II, with the difference that the superior opening of the pouch is made immediately behind the stylo-maxillaris. In order to accomplish this the cutaneous wound over the wing of the atlas must be prolonged belowit. After detach- ing the posterior border of the parotid gland the operator searches in the loose areolar tissue with the index finger of the left hand for the vascular angle which is formed by the occipital, internal carotid and external carotid arteries which may be detected by pulsation—the same is located at a depth of somewhere from 8 to 10cm. Place the volar surface of the finger in the vascular angle and push a sharp scalpel along its dorsal side to the pouch which here becomes opened on its posterior lateral surface. This method has the advantage over Chabert’s that for the removal of hard contents (chondroid) the opening can be readily dilated, even to such an extent that the entire hand can be passed into the air sac and the opening of the Eustachian tube be explored. FRACHEOTOMY. 63 12, TRACHEOTOMY. Ee 2s Instruments. Razor, scissors, convex scalpel, tenacula, tenaculum and ligation forceps, trachea tube, and suture material. Technic. Inthe superior third of the cervical region, in the neighborhood of the fourth to the sixth tracheal ring, shave and disinfect the skin on the anterior surface of the neck to the extent of 10 cm. long by 5 cm. wide. The operation is best performed upon the standing animal with ie fiedad extended. In lateral. decubitis of the horse the operation is carried out with some difficulty, and generally the operator fails to get the incision on the median line. ies 52: TRACHEOTOMY. s, sterno-thyro-hyoideus muscle ; #7, trachea ; sch, mucous membrane of the posterior wall of the trachea ; Z, interannular ligament. The operator stands before the right shoulder of the horse with an assistant opposite him. Make the incision by rendering the skin tense along the median line of the trachea with the left hand and then mak- ing a drawing cut from above to below with the scalpel. After the skin muscle is cut through, in order to avoid hem- — 64. TRACHEOTOMY. orrhage, separate the two sterno-thyro-hyoideus muscles by means of tenacula along the median line in the white strip of connective tissue. ‘The opening into the trachea may be made in a variety of ways. The quickest and most crude method is to slit it from above downwards through three or four tracheal rings, and pressing the severed ends apart insert the tube through the opening. Since the tracheal rings are incomplete, being open on their dorsal surfaces, cutting through the ventral portion divides each ring into two separate parts and their being pushed apart, distorts them and tends to the causation of chondritis and collapse of the trachea, a danger which increases with the duration of time that the tube is maintained in position. It is there- fore most suitable for hurried operation in impending suffocation where the tube will probably be needed for a short time only. A second method of operation, illustrated in Fig. 2, con- sists in making a transverse incision through the inter-annu- lar ligament between the two last exposed tracheal rings the length of the diameter of the tube to be inserted. Make a perpendicular incision upward from each end of this at a point r to 1.5 cm. from the median line through one or two tracheal rings, according to the size of the tube. With forceps or tenaculum grasp the segments of partially de- tached cartilage and remove them by cutting through the inter-annular ligament. A third and to us preferable method is to insert a narrow bladed scalpel transversely at about the lower third of the lowermost bared tracheal ring and cutting outwards and upwards in a curved line, pass through the first inter-anau- lar ligament and continue into the succeeding segment until near its superior border, when the incision is curved down- ward to eventually reach the starting point, the isolated section of the trachea being securely grasped with a pair of forceps before its excision is. completed. By this method no tracheal ring is severed. ARYTENECTONOMY. 65 The trachea tube is to be removed and cleansed daily as long as its use is necessary, and when discontinued the wound should be left open and dressed antiseptically. 13. ARYTENECTOMY. PEATH 2411; Object. Therelief of roaring or larynigismus paralyticus. Instrumenst. Razor, scissors, scalpel, razor shaped knife with long handle, long curved scissors, long curved uterine dressing forceps, double tenaculum forceps, trachea tube, retractors, reflecting lamp, absorbent cotton and dress- ing material. Technic. Perform tracheotomy as advised in preced- ing chapter. Secure the animal in lateral recumbency preferably upon the operating table and induce complete anaesthesia closing the trachea tube in the meantime or administering the chloroform through this by means of a bent funnel while the nostrils are occluded by tampons. Shave and disinfect the skin over the laryngeal region. Place the animal upon its back with the head extended and remove the halter or other head gear. If necessary continue the adminstration of chloroform through the trachea tube by means of a funnel the small end of which is inserted in it while the chloroform is dropped on a towel spread over the larger end. The operator takes his place on the right side of the animal and the assistant on the left. Make a longitudinal incision through the skin and subcutem be- ginning at the anterior part of the thyroid cartilage and ex- tending backward on the median line of the 3rd. or 4th. tracheal ring. Control the cutaneous hemorrhage. Con- tinue the incision through the subjacent muscular tissue being careful to follow the median line exactly until the crico-thyroidean ligament, CTL, Plate XII, the cricoid cartilage C, and the first tracheal ring TRI, are laid bare. 5 PLATE XXII. ARYTENECTOMY. EH, epiglottis; TT, thyroid cartilage; CC, cricoid cartilage ; TRI, first tracheal ring; V. left vocal cord ; A, left arytenoid cartilage sur- rounded by dotted line of incision ; CTC, crico- thyroideau ligament. ARYTENECTOMY. 69 Again control any hemorrhage. Plunge the scalpel with its cutting edge directed backward through the crico- thyroidean ligament on a level with the dotted line T and extend this backward along the median line severing the ewcoid cartilage, C, and the first tracheal ring,’ VRI.. In- sert the retractors and have the larynx held well open by as- sistants. Illuminate the larynx by means of a reflecting lamp as may be required. After controlling any hemor- rhage caused by the foregoing make an incision through the mucosa and the intervening connective tissue between the two arytenoid cartilages, A, beginning at the anterior part and extending backward to the cricoid, thence turn- ing upward and laterally, incise the mucosa across the posterior end of the arytenoid thence forward .along its lateral border through the vocal cord, V, and turning down- ward as the animal hes, that is toward the dorsal part of the larynx, continue the incision to the point of beginning. In making this incision cut as closely as possible to the margin of the cartilage so that a minimum amount of the mucous membrane will be removed. Grasp the lateral border of the cartilage with the long tenaculum forceps and with a razor-shaped knife or the scissors separate the lateral and anterior portions of it from the adjacent tissues keep- ing always immediately against it in order to produce as clean a wound as possible and to avoid injuring adjacent vessels from which hemorrhage would occur. When the cartilage has been detached over the greater part of its surface locate the crico-arytenoid articulation and dis- articulate or cut through the arytenoid as close to the articu- lation as possible with the razor-shaped knife or the scissors. Remove all blood by means of pledgets of absorbent cotton securely held in the long dressing forceps, or the clots may be pushed into,the pharynx when they will generally be swallowed. Carefully remove any cartilaginous remnants or tissue shreds and control the hemorrhage from any 70 ROARING OPERATION. visible vessels. Dust the wounds thoroughly with iodoform and tannin and if the capillary hemorrhage is great pack the larynx with a single strip of iodoform gauze and secure it by sutures through the margin of the skin wound. Re- move this tampon after twelve to twenty.four hours. Wash and disinfect the wounds daily. Remove the trachea tube daily and cleanse, and retain it in position for 6 to 10 days or until the animal breathes freely without it. After about 8 days insert the retractors in the laryngeal wound, dilate it, examine the interior with the aid of a lamp and give any needed attention to unhealthy granulations or other untoward conditions. 14. ROARING OPERATION BY EXCISION OF THE VOCAL CORDS AND VENTRICLE OF THE LARYNX. PRATE: XTi Objects. The same as in the preceding operation except that we attempt to relieve roaring by causing the arytenoid cartilage to become fixed against the side of the glottis by cicatricial adhesion. Instruments. Same as in the preceding. Technic. The technic of this operation is identical with the preceding until the larynx has been been opened. Grasp the left vocal cord with the double tenaculum for- ceps, one jaw of which rests in the ventricle and lift it up- wards until the parts are rendered tense. With the razor shaped scalpel make an incision parallel with the long axis of the vocal cord on the tracheal side of it through the mu- cous membrane and cord and continue this incision forward internally along the immediate border of the arytenoid car- tilage barely through the mucous membrane and laterally make a similar cut directed forwards approximately 1 to 1% cm. distant from the preceding as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1, Plate XIII. Keeping the parts in- ROARING OPERATION. 7% cluded in the tenaculum forceps tense, dissect the vocal cord and mucous ‘membrane from the underlying parts from behind forward toward the apex of the arytenoid car- tilage and continue the two incisions forward until the ven- tricle has been passed when they are made to converge and finally meet, thus isolating completely the mucous mem- brane of that depression. Should the tension upon the vocal cord and mucous membrane by means of the tenac- ulum forceps be too great they may tear asunder in which case the remnants must be grasped by means of the tenac- ulum forceps or better with the long dressing forceps and the operation continued. The mucous membrane should be carefully trimmed around the margin of the wound and care should be taken to not remove entirely the remnants of the wasted thyro-arytenoideus muscle because that tends to permit the cartilage to drop down too low in the larynx nor. should the incision in the ventricle be carried deeper than the mucous membrane lest we wound important ves- sels and produce annoying hemorrhages. Remove all blood clots and disinfect the parts. Apply no sutures to the wound in the vocal cords, mucosa or larynx. After the animal has recovered from the anaesthesia, cleanse the ex- ternal wound carefully and wash it daily with an antiseptic and if thought best apply this also to the wound in the vo- cal cord by means of saturated absorbent cotton grasped with the long dressing forceps and pushed up to the area through the laryngeal incision. Cleanse the trachea tube daily and keep in position from six to ten days or longer, should the animal show difficulty in breathing when it is removed. PLATE XIII. OPERATION FOR RELIEF OF ROARING. Fic. 1. Longitudinal section through the ventricle of the larynx ; A, Arytenoid cartilage; TA, Anterior fasiculus of thyro-arytenoideus muscle ; TA’, Posterior bundle thyro-arytenoid- eus; VC, vocal cords; V, Laryngeal ventri- cle ; T, Thyroid cartilage ; E, Epiglottis. Fic. 2. Sagittal section of the larynx. C, cricoid cartilage ; C-T, crico-thyroidean liga- ment. Other lettering same as Fig. I. MR Aon: Ree 6 tia: Ss Pre, 33 INTRA-TRACHEAL IRRIGATION. 75 15. INTRA-TRACHEAL IRRIGATION. Objects. The washing of irritant or septic substances from, and the disinfection of, the trachea and bronchi. Instruments. Same as for tracheotomy, and a gravity irrigating apparatus fitted with 3 m. of rubber tubing about I cm. in diameter, 5 liters of .6 per cent. soda chloride solu- tion at a temperature of 37 to 39° C. Technic. Operate on the standing animal. Perform tracheotomy. Elevate the gravity apparatus containing the irrigating fluid 1 to 2 m. above the patient, have the animal’s head slightly elevated, insert the free end of the rubber hose in the trachea tube and let the fluid flow into the trachea in a moderate stream until it is filled and the animal makes expulsive efforts, when the inflow is stopped and the animal permitted to lower his head and expel the fluid, then raise the head again and repeat until the fluid is expelled clear. Repeat the operation according to require- ment. In cases of suppurative bronchitis, peroxide of hydrogen may be added to the solution. 16. INTRAVENOUS INJECTION. BIG 3: Instruments. Scissors, hypodermic syringe. Technic. ‘The operation is performed on the standing animal on either jugular vein at about the juncture of the upper and middle thirds of the neck ; to most operators the right jugular is the more convenient. At the place desig- nated the subscapulo-hyoideus muscle lies between the jugular vein and the carotid artery. After clipping the hair, the skin should be carefully disinfected. The vein lies in the jugular groove between the mastoido-humeralis and the sterno-maxillaris muscles covered only by the skin and skin muscle. Stand by the shoulder of the horse and compress the jugular with the thumb as shown in Figure 3 or with the 76 INTRAVENOUS INJECTION. second to the fourth fingers, in which case the ball of the thumb rests on the mastoido-humeralis muscle, in a way that the vein becomes filied above the point of compression in the shorn area and stands out asa swollen cord. In the case of fleshy necked horses this compression is more readily attained if the head is somewhat eievated and extended by an assistant. If the vein can not be made prominent in this Fic 3. Intravenous Injection. way the compression should be alternately applied and with- drawn suddenly, the course of the vein then reveals itself by a wave-like movement along the jugular groove. Just above the point of compression the vein is the most fully distended and firmly fixed. After testing the hypodermic needle to see that it is open hold it between the second and third fingers while the thumb covers its basal opening and thrust it through the skin, cutaneous muscle and jugular wall, in the direction of the vein obliquely forwards and up- wards 1 to 2cm. deep, so that the point of the needle enters the vessel at its most distended part. In this way it is easy to prevent injury to the median wall of the vein. If the PHLEBOTOMY. 77 vein has been properly punctured blood will flow from the needle upon the removal of the thumb. If the vein is not entered at the first attempt the needle should be partly with- drawn and then pushed in again in a slightly different direc- tion. The compression is then removed and the hypo- dermic syringe in which no air is contained is connected and the contents slowly discharged into the vein. In with- drawing the needle be careful to press the skin firmly against the underlying part. ‘The omission of this precaution fre- quently results in the formation of a subcutaneous hema- tome. 17, PHLEBOTOMY. FIG, 3. Instruments. Razor or scissors, fleams, lancet, phle- botomy trocar, spring lancet, pins, suture material. Technic. a. Phlebotomy with fleams may be performed on either jugular vein. The operation is preferably carried out on the standing animal, but is not difficult when the patient is recumbent. The point of operation is at about the boundary line between the upper and middle cervical regions, because it is here that the subscapulo-hyoideus muscle which separates the jugular vein from the carotid artery is most voluminous and consequently affords the greatest protection to the latter. At this point clip or shave and disinfect the skin. Grasp the extended blade of the fleam at the joint with the thumb and index finger of one hand, while the third and fourth fingers compress the jugular vein at a point far enough below the shaved part that the fleam blade rests upon it. In fleshy-necked animals the course of the vein may be clearly made out by causing its repeated distension and relaxation. It is well to be careful that the point of the fleam blade is not allowed to prick the skin prematurely and render the animal rest- 78 PHLEBOTOMY. less, and that it is held perpendicular to the surface and parallel to the long axis of the vein. The most elevated point of the vessel should be struck by the blade in sucha way that the skin, subcutaneous muscle and jugular wall are penetrated parallel to the long axisof the vessel. Drive the fleam blade into the vein by a short, sharp blow with a small stick of heavy wood. ‘The extension on the fleam blade prevents its beiug driven too deeply. The size of the blade to be used depends upon the thickness of the skin and other tissues covering the vein. If the vein is opened, dark red blood escapes from the wound in a large stream. If the operation does not succeed at the first effort, one should select an undamaged portion of the skin for a second attempt so that the opening into the vein may be direct and clean. When the vein is opened lay the instrument aside, the compression of the vessel being continued in order to prevent aspiration of air into it and also that the lips of the skin wound shall not become displaced in relation to that of the vein by which the escape of blood would be impeded or stopped. ‘The flow of blood may be favored by inducing masticatory movements by the animal. The amount of blood withdrawn varies between 3 and 8 liters, according to size of the animal and the object to be attained. The wound may be closed by an interrupted or a pinned suture. For the latter, relieve the compression on the vein and grasp the lips of the skin wound between the finger and thumb and stick the pin perpendicularly through the middle of ita few mm. from its borders. Apply a noose of silk ligature previously prepared over the pin and close and tie the loop. In applying the pin and loop, take care not to élevate the skin from the underlying part, which tends to the production of a hematome. b. With the lancet the operation is preferably performed on the right side of the neck. Compress the vein as illus- trated in Fig. 3, and hold the lancet between the thumb and LIGATION OF TALACAROTID ARTERY. 79 index finger in such a manner that it can only penetrate as far as into the vein, and then push it in quickly just in front of the compressing thumb through the skin, subcutem and venous wall as deep as the fingers holding the lancet will permit. Hold the blade perpendicular to the long axis of the vein, and avoid directing the point dorsalwards, which would endanger the superior wall of the vessel or cause the lancet to glide over the wall and not enter the vein. When the lancet has entered the vein, extend the wound somewhat toward the head by flexing the hand dorsally. In cattle it is necessary to compress the vein by means of a cord tightly drawn around the neck, the operator taking the same posi- tion as in the horse while an assistant holds the animal by the horns or nose. Close the wound as in a. Phlebotomy with the spring lancet is carried out in a sim- ilar manner, the jugular being compressed in the same way, and the lancet, with the spring set, placed over the vein in such a way that the opening will be made in the same direc- tion and manner as with the fleams. The lancet blade is then released and penetrates the vein. The compression be- low is continued as in other cases. c. Phlebotomy with the trocar is performed in the same manner as has been described for intravenous injection. So long as the flow of blood continues the compression of the vein must not be intermitted. The phlebotomy trocar should be about 5 mm. in diameter. 18. LIGATION OF THE CAROTID ARTERY. PLATE, XLV: Objects. The control of hemorrhage from wounds or the prevention of hemorrhage during the removal of tumors or other operations in the parotid region. Instruments. Scissors, scalpel, tenacula, aneurism PEATE X1V. Fic. 1.—a, Ligation of the common carotid artery ; 6, CGisophagotomy. Fic. 2.—Ligation of the common carotidartery. c,common carotid artery ; Jj, juguiar vein; v, vagus nerve; S, sympathetic nerve ; 7, recurrent nerve; p, cervical panniculous carnosus muscle; m, sternomaxillaris muscle; sz, levator humeri muscle. Fic. 3.—Csophagotomy. ¢, com- mon carotid artery ; 7, jugular vein ; 0, 0’, cesophagus; s, sympathetic nerve ; 7, trachea; s¢, mastoido hum- eralis (lavator humeri) muscle. LIGATION OF THE CAROTID ARTERY, 83 needle, mouse-toothed forceps, lgation forceps, suture material. Technic. The operation is possible on the standing animal with the aid of cocaine or other local anaesthetic but it is preferable to confine the patient in lateral recumbency and anaesthetize. The operation is made at the same point as for phlebotomy and the same cutaneous wound, a, Plate XIV, may be used for this purpose. ‘The incision should be at least 10 cm. long extending through the skin, fleshy panniculus and subscapulo-hyoideus muscles and then a passage forced with the fingers, to the trachea. At the region of the neck indicated, the carotid passes along the border between the lateral and dorsal surfaces of the trachea, accompanied dorsally by the vagus and sympathetic nerves and ventrally Merde tecutrent. <(In; Figure 2, Plate: XIV;. the vagus and sympathetic nerves, v and s, are pushed out of their normal position and appear ventrally to the carotid.) Pass the index finger over and behind the carotid until the trachea is reached, and encircling the inner and lower sides of the artery, force a way through the surrounding areolar tissue and draw the vessel out through the wound. Asa rule the carotid is still loosely surrounded by connective tissue, which comes from the deep fascia of the neck and in which also the three above mentioned nerves are found. These nerves must be carefully separated from the carotid and must on no account be included in the ligature. Ligate the carotid twice with an intervai of about 2 cm. between the two ligatures and divide the artery midway between them. ‘The second ligature is necessary in order to prevent hemorrhage from the distal end through collateral anasto- moses and it is essential to sever the artery in order to avoid its rupture by the stretching of the undivided carotid dur- ing movements of the neck where the nutrition has been cut off at the point of ligation. Provide drainage for the wound and suture the muscle and skin. ~— 84 GSOPHAGOTOMY. I9. CGASOPHAGOTOMY. PLATE XIV. Instruments. Razor, scissors, convex scalpel, straight probe-pointed bistoury, tenacula, artery forceps, absorbent cotton, suture material. Technic. The operation can be carried out on the standing or the recumbent animal. At its origin the cesophagus lies above the trachea somewhat to the left of the median line and as it descends it gradually deviates farther until in the lower cervical region it lies down along the side. The operation is performed at any point between the pharynx and chest where the lodgment of a foreign body or other condition may demand it. When the cesophagus is empty the operation is best performed in the lower third of the neck at 6, Figure 1, Plate XIV. Anincision 10cm. long through the skin and skin muscle is made on the left side between the anterior border of the mastoido-humeralis muscle and the jugular vein. With the two index fingers divide the loose connective tissue down to the cesophagus, which lies between the left scalenus muscle, trachea and jugular vein. Along the supero-external border of the trachea rnns the carotid, accompanied dorsally by the vagus and sympathetic and ventrally by the re- current nerves. The cesophagus feels like a round muscle within which one can distinguish a firmer cord, the mucous membrane. When brought into view the organ has a pale red color, and it, with the trachea is surrounded by the deep fascia of the neck. Pass one finger around the cesophagus from behind, draw it away from the trachea, force a passage through the deep fascia of the neck and draw it out through the external wound. After making an incision through the muscle and mucous membrane intro- (ESOPHAGOTOM Y. 85 duce a probe pointed bistoury or a scissors blade into the lumen of the cesophagus and split its wall. The mucous membrane is white and lies in thick longitudinal folds. When there is a foreign body in the cesophagus the opera- tion is performed at the point where it is lodged in the manner described and the incision should be made only large enough to permit its removal. In diverticuli of the cesophagus an elliptical piece of the mucous membrane which has been overstretched is cut out. The cesophageal wound is closed by a laminated suture, that is, the mucous membrane is united by means of an intestinal suture and the muscular wall closed over this. The skin and muscular wound may either be left open or closed with the Bayer suture and bandaged with a drainage tube in the lower angle. III. OPERATIONS ON THE TRUNK AND GENITAL ORGANS. 20; PUNCIURE OF THE CHEST: FIG. 4. Objects. ‘The relief of hydrothorax or pyothorax. Instruments. , Razor, scissors, trocar, 1° m. OL eiieen tubing of the same size as the trocar, vessel for receiving the escaping fluid, dressing material. Technic. Operate upon the standing animal, the point of operation being the seventh intercostal space on the left side, and the sixth on the right. Dogs may be laid upon FIG. 4. Puncture of the chest ; puncture of the intestine. the table. ‘The anterior ribs are so covered by the shoulder that they cannot be counted from before backwards and must be enumerated from behind forwards. In the horse we estimate eighteen ribs and in the dog fourteen. Count- ing II or 12 intercostal spaces from behind we reach the PUNCTURE: OF FHE INTESTINES. 87 point of operation on the left and right sides respectively. Clip or shave the designated intercostal area immediately above the thoracic vein. Grasp the trocar firmly with the thumb and index finger of one hand at such a distance from the point as will permit the canula to enter the chest. After the skin over the seat of operation has been drawn aside by the hand, place the trocar at the anterior border of the rib with the point inclined slightly forward and with a sharp blow with the palm of the other hand drive the in- strument through the skin, cutaneous and intercostal mus- cles, internal thoracic fascia and pleura into the pleural sac. When the resistance ceases, the thoracic cavity has been entered. Remove the stilette and permit the pus, lymph, or other fluid to escape. ‘This flow is at first continuous, but later becomes rythmic, synchronous with respiration. - The intermission of the flow during inspiration permits air to enter the pleural cavity unless precautions are taken against it; this is most readily obviated by shipping one end of the rubber tubing over the exposed part of the can- ula and placing the other extremity in the receptacle for the fluid where it will be submerged. This wiil not only prevent aspiration of air into the chest but will act as a syphon to aid in the withdrawal of the fluid from the pleu- ral cavity. In the absence of the tubing the entrance of air may be avoided by closing the canula with the finger after each expiration. 21. PUNCTURE OF THE INTESTINES. a FIGS. 4, 5. Object. The relief of intestinal tympany. Instruments. Razor, scissors, trocar. Technic. Puncture of the intestine is preferably per- formed on the standing horse but may be carried out on the recumbent animal. ‘The point of operation is in the right 88 PUNCTORE (‘OF THE INTESTINES. flank about equi-distant from the last rib, the extremities of the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae and the ex- ternal angle of the ilium in the standing horse ; at the upper- most point of the abdomen in the recumbent animal, that is, at the most prominent part of the distension. After the skin at this place has been clipped or shaved and disinfected grasp the trocar with the index finger and the thumb of the left hand and holding the instrument perpendicular to the body surface, give it a firm, quick blow with the palm of the right hand and drive it through the abdominal wall into the intestine. With a properly constructed trocar of the dimensions suggested in Figure 5 no preliminary puncture with the lancet is required or advisable. The cutting end of the stilette should be very long, tapering and sharp so that it will cut as freely as the lancet. By performing the operation as directed the trocar ordinarily punctures the FIG. 5. Intestine trocar with sheath. Outside diameter of canula 3 mm., length of canula, 16 cm. caecum. Withdraw the stilette and permit the gas to escape through the canula. The canula may become occluded by particles of ingesta entering it and these should be removed by reinserting the stilette. The intestine first punctured may collapse and the flow of gas cease while the tympany continues in other parts; this may be overcome by reintro- ducing the stilette and pushing the trocar through the distal wall of the bowel and into the next section of intestine beyond. If this does not succeed the trocar may be with- drawn and reinserted in a neighboring area or if need be on the opposite side of the animal. In withdrawing the canula replace the stilette and press the skin against the abdomen \ SUBCUTANEOUS CAUDAL MYOTOMY. 89 with the thumb and finger of one hand while the trocar is drawn out with the other. This tends to prevent particles of ingesta from following the canula out of the intestine and becoming lodged at some point in the track of the wound to set up inflammatory processes there. Before introduction, the trocar should always be rendered sterile but should not bear irritant antiseptics, which becoming lodged in the wound tend to irritate the tissues and produce abscesses. Puncture of the intestine is so often extremely urgent that deliberate aseptic precautions are not always practicable and trocarization only too frequently results in abscesses in the abdominal wall. Its prevention must depend chiefly upon the disinfection of the skin and instrument. It becomes important to use an instrument which is clean in advance. If the one shown in fig. 5 is well disinfected after using and the sheath is filled with alcohol before it is screwed on, the instrument will remain sterile until it is again unsheathed and then the alcohol will quickly evaporate and leave it aseptic. 22. SUBCUTANEOUS CAUDAL MYOTOMY. FIGs 6; Object. The correction of curved tail. Instruments. Sharp straight tenotome, bandage. Technic. The point or points of curvature and their extent are to be carefully noted by having the animal trotted away from the operator. The curvature is generally due to unequal development of the two levator or extensor muscles, Fig. 6.-ec, though quite rarely the depressors, 7, may be implicated. Confine the animal in stocks, or in default of these, control by means of a twitch and sideline. Cleanse and disinfect the tail and have it sharply bent by an assistant in the opposite direction to the curvature. Locate the longi- tudinal furrow between the levator and depressor muscles on go SUBCUTANEOUS CAUDAL MYOTOMY. what has now become the convex side and at the lower margin of the levator and just above v, Fig. 6, insert the tenotome at the most prominent part of curvation, the incision being paral- lel with the muscular fibers, and push the instrument entirely through the muscle to the vertebra, then turning the cutting edge upwards, at the same time advancing the point toward the median line, sever the entire muscle. The superior lateral caudal artery, s, Fig. 6, bleeds profusely if severed, and wounding of it may usually be avoided by withdrawing the tenotome a trifle in passing that point. Wounding the Fic 6. Transverse section of the tail. 2, caudal vertebra ; c, sacro- coccygeus lateralis muscle ; @, sacro coccygeus superior ; /, depressor longus and brevis muscles (sacro-coccygeus infer- ior) ; 2, intertransversales muscles ; a, coccygeal artery ; s, su- pero-lateral coccygeal artery; /, infero-lateral coccygeal ar- tery ; v, caudal veins (dorsal, ventral, lateral) ; sch, caudal fascia ; 2, skin. skin over the muscular incision 1s avoided by placing the thumb of the left hand over the line of incision so the knife will be recognized as soon as the muscle and cau- dal fascia are cut through. Remove the knife in the same manner as introduced. Release the horse and have him trotted again. //the operation ts sufficient, the tail should curve in about the same degree as before, but in the opposite dtrec- CAUDAL MYECTOMY. gI fon. If this has not been attained examine carefully and sever any remaining bundles of muscle, and this not suffic- ing repeat the operation as before at another point 5 or 6 cm. above or below the first, severing the muscle again. Or if the depressor appears implicated, sever it in a similar manner. In extreme cases the entire lateral half of the caudal muscles, tendons and aponeurosis may be severed. Apply an antiseptic pad to the wound and retain it by a moderately firm bandage, which serves at once as an occlu- sive dressing and effective hemostatic. Remove the band- age after 24 hours. By this plan of operation it is not intended to tie the tail to the side of the animal during the time of healing but when bandaging it immediately after the operation, it should be held away from the side toward which it formerly curved so that the bandage would tend to prevent the return of the organ to its former position. 23. CAUDAL MYECTOMY. FIG 6 AND PLATE XV Objects. For the prevention of the gripping of the reins by the tail. Instruments. Elastic ligature, straight bistoury, tenacula, absorbent cotton, bandages. Technic. Confine the animal in lateral decubitis or in stocks, cleanse and disinfect the parts and apply the elastic ligature as close as possible to the root of the tail. Have an assistant hold the tail upwards, z. e., dorsalwards, and tightly stretched. Make an incision 15 to 20 cm. long, over the middle of the inferior surface of each depressor longus muscle, beginning close against the elastic ligature and ex- tending toward the apex, severing at once the skin and caudal fascia down to the muscle. Let an assistant retract the lips of the incision with tenacula while the operator dissects the depressor longus muscle, DC, Plate OV. trom PEATE ZV; CAUDAL MvkEcToMy To PREVENT GRIPPING OF THE REINS. DC, Depressor coccygeus longus muscle ; T, tourniquet. Rory coos Set gest ES cote OO eb ase AMPUTATION. OF THE TAIL. 95 the adjacent tissues at either side, sever it by a transverse incision close against the ligature and dissect away the en- tire muscle down to the lower end of the wound and there excise it. Repeat the operation on the opposite side. Make two elongated tampons of absorbent cotton, of the size and form of the muscles removed, saturate these with 1I-1000 sublimate solution, insert neatly in the wounds and over this to aid in securing antisepsis and to equalize the pressure apply a pad of absorbent cotton, saturated with sublimate solution, covering the wounds and encircling the tail and secure by a moderately firm bandage as closely as possible to the elastic higature. Remove the ligature, when hemor- rhage may ensue, which is to be controlled by the applica- tion of a second bandage extending higher up on the tail. Remove the bandage in 24 hours and dress as before for a second day after which treat asan open wound. Care should be taken to not apply the bandage too tightly or leave it in place for more than 24 hours, since otherwise necrosis of the tail is liable to occur and necessitate amputation. 24. AMPUTATION OF THE TAIL. PEATE XVE: Objects. The treatment of malignant, or incurable dis- eases of the tail. Instruments. Elastic bandage, scalpel, razor, artery forceps, bone cutting forceps, suture material. Technic. ‘The animal may generally be operated upon in a standing position secured in the stocks or with the aid of the side line. Local anaesthesia may be applied by in- jecting cocaine or other drug deeply upon the nerve trunk as well as just beneath the skin. ‘The animals’ attention may be attracted by means of the twitch if found necessary. The point of amputation is determined by the location of PLATE OVI. AMPUTATION OF TAIL. Fig. 1.—Tail amputated showing flaps un- sutured; B, Bandage securing hairs turned upward out of operator’s way. Fig. 2 —Operation completed showing su- tures; B, Bandage applied to secure hair of tail upwards out of operator’s way. AMPUTATION OF THE TAIL. 99 the disease. Over the area of operation clip the hair, shave and thoroughly disinfect. Apply the tourniquet or elastic bandage at the base of the tail so asto render the operation bloodless. Above the seat of operation turn the hair upward toward the root of the tail and secure it there by means of the bandage, B, Fig. 1. Locate as accurately as possible the position of a joint at the point where it is desired to oper- ate and with the scalpel begin an incision on the median line on the upper side of the organ about 1 cm. above the articulation and carry this obliquely outward for a distance of 4 to 6 cm. according to the size of the tail and then con- tinue it downward, backward and inward along the side and inferior surface until directly opposite to the place of begin- ning. Make a similar incision upon the opposite side of the tail, cut through ail the connective tissue and muscles down to the bone and then disarticulate with the aid of the scalpel. Search for the arteries and control the hemorrhage by torsion or ligation. The vessels will be more readily found by loosening the tourniquet so as to permit the blood to flow. Some operators prefer to begin the incision at the side of the tail instead of upon the dorsal surface and in that way have a dorsal and ventral flap instead of right and left as indicated in Fig.1. The excision having been completed the flaps are brought together by means of strong silk or silk worm gut sutures as shown in Fig. 2. The sutures should be begun at the apex of the two flaps and comparatively deep. Disinfect the stump thoroughly and if the hair is sufficient- ly long it may be well to draw it down over the wound, to which an antiseptic covering has been applied, and retain it in position by tying a cord around the hair just beyond the point of amputation. L. OF C, I0O URETHROTOMY. LITHOTOMY. 25. URETHROTOMY. “LITHOTOMY. Fic, 7, 8. Objects. For the removal of calculi from the bladder or urethra or performing other operations on these parts. Instruments. Catheter, convex scalpel, scissors, artery and compression forceps, tenacula, lthotome, lithotomy forceps, lithotrite, absorbent cotton, drainage tube, suture material. Technic. Urethrotomy may be performed on horses in a standing position, the hind feet being secured with hobbles. It is best, however, to operate under anaesthesia with the patient in lateral or dorsal recumbency, either on the operat- ing table or cast, being careful to secure as gently as possi- ble, having first emptied the bladder if practicable, since rupture of an overdistended viscus may readily occur during violent struggles by the animal. The point of operation will depend upon the location of the calculus or other obstacle. If it is found in the pelvic portion of the urethra or in the bladder, the operation is made at the ischial notch, Fig. 8. First the penis is drawn out from the prepuce and the catheter introduced into the urethra and pushed upward until it has passed the ischial notch. After disinfection of the skin, render it tense and make a 5 cm. long incision on the median line at the ischial arch through the skin, bulbo-cavernosus muscle, spongy portion of the urethra, and the urethral mucous membrane down to the catheter, Fig. 8, k. In order to prevent infiltra- tion of urine after the operation, special care is to be taken to make the lower end of the wound slanting in such a manner that the inner margin is higher than the outer. After the catheter has been drawn back away from the ischial arch, introduce the lithotomy forceps into the urethra or bladder, grasp the stone and draw it outward in its natural direction. The grasping of the stone by the forceps is materially aided by means\of the left hand introduced into URETHROTOMY. LITHOTOMY. IOI the rectum. One must avoid grasping, along with the stone, the mucous membrane of the bladder. Partial filling of the bladder with a tepid aseptic solution will aid in grasping the calculus and in avoiding the implication of the bladder walls. By careful rotary movement and pushing the forceps back- ward and forward the operator can determine before the ex- traction of the stone if the forceps can be withdrawn easily and without much resistance through the neck of the A 7 ie 2 Fic. 7. Urethrotomy at the ischial notch. ara ae ak bladder. If the stone is so large that it can not pass the neck of the bladder lithotripsy may be performed. ‘This operation requires time and patience, since as arule itis not possible to encompass the entire calculus with the forceps. That is, the narrowness of the neck of the bladder prevents the sufficiently wide opening of the forceps. The stone con- sequently must be gradually broken off at its periphery and the individual pieces of calculus removed. ‘The character of the surface of the stone has an evident bearing upon the practicability of lithotripsy. When this operation is impossible, the surgical dilation 102 URETHROTOMY. LITHOTOMY. of the pelvic urethra with the lithotome can be undertaken as a last resort. Introduce the instrument and divide the urethra upward and laterally as the instrument is withdrawn. In order to prevent injury to the rectum it should be emptied before the operation is undertaken. After the removal of the stone, push the catheter again over the ischial arch and unite the lips of the wound in the urethral mucous mem- brane by means of intestinal sutures. Flush the bladder ” oe Fic. 8. Urethrotomy (life size). 4, skin; a, retractor penis muscle; 6, bulbo-cavernous muscle; c, spongy urethra; #, urethra; &, catheter. and urethra by means of a warm, 3 per cent. boric acid solu- tion injected through the catheter and then withdraw the latter. Finally, suture the skin wound and insert a drainage tube or iodoform gauze in the lower angle. The whole wound may be left entirely open and dressed daily with antiseptics. In case the pelvic urethra has been divided the suturing of the external wound is of questionable utility. (For student practice on an anaesthetized horse, intro- duce a stone into the bladder through the urethral wound and practice grasping and removing it with the lithotomy forceps. ) AMPUTATION OF THE PENIS. 103 26. AMPUTATION OF THE PENIS. PLATE SOV IT AND PIG. 9; Instruments. Scalpel, elastic ligature, strong silk thread, strong piece of tape 1 m. long, artery and compres- Siem forceps. _ Technic. ‘The operation is carried out on the recumbent animal under complete anaesthesia, the upper hind foot being drawn backward or upward or otherwise so fixed as to not obstruct the field of operation. The point of opera- tion is determined by the character of the disease and the object to be attained. It may be made at any point from the glans penis to the attachment of the corpus cavernosum to the ischium. If possible amputate in front of the pre- putial ring. After the penis is drawn out, and the pre- putial region is carefully cleansed with warm water, soap and brush and disinfected, an assistant grasps the organ just behind the preputial ring and holds it firmly. A temporary elastic ligature, T, is then applied above the assistant’s hand around the penis, or a piece of tape is looped around it above the hand and is made to serve both as a tourniquet and as a means for holding the penis or it can he grasped in front of the ligature with double tenaculum forceps and held. Insert a catheter into the urethra and push it beyond the elastic ligature or tourniquet. Apply a small cord just behind the glans penis, L, Fig. 1, Plate XVII, and then make a triangular incision on the ventral surface of the organ about 4 cm. long by 3 cm. wide, the base of the triangle being forward as shown in Fig. 1; carry this incision thrbugh the skin, S, the corpus spongiosum, CS, and along the corpus cavernosum, CC, down to the urethra, U. Disect away the tissues in the triangular area without opening or wounding the urethra and when this has been completed make a longitudinal incision from near the apex of the triangle to its base through the urethral walls to the catheter. Beginning at the commissure insert a series of "eIqyeIn ‘N ‘Sainjns SurMoys uonerado payatdmog—‘z'31yq ‘TIO ‘D ‘ oinzesvy “TJ { eaqyesigq ‘q : wnsou -taAvd sndioy ‘DD ‘ uryg ‘s { e1qyeim jo mnso1 -8uods sndso5 ‘gD ‘ yenbyusno} se pasn aanyesiy ONSET “I, ‘worjerado jo a8e4s ys1q¥—'l “817 ‘SINS JO NOMLVLAdNYy ‘TIAX HIW Id “OL Od ie ae ep eine Tye, ie =a raeNe (ier tm Re he te YP Ae hae a ae oe AMPUTATION OF THE PENIS. 107 interrupted sutures as shown in Fig. II, Plate X VII in such a manner that they pass through the urethral wall and the skin so that when tied the wounded surfaces are completely hidden and the urethral mucous membrane is brought into apposition with the integument. Continue these sutures down to the base of the triangle after which remove the FIG. 9. Amputation of the penis, showing needle inserted for a suture. V, Dorsal vessels of penis; A, Fibrous tunic of the corpus cavernosum ;S, Skin; CC, Corpus cavernosum ; CS, Corpus spongiosum of urethra; U, Urethra. catheter and excise the organ by a cut extending in a slightly oblique direction from below upwards and forwards. Take a straight needle armed with the silk suture and passing it through the margin of the utheral wound, the adjacent fibrous capsule of the corpus cavernosum and across but 108 VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. not through the erectile tissue, insert it again into the superior portion of the fibrous capsule and carry it out through the adjacent dorsal vessels and the skin as shown in Fig. 9, and bringing the ends of the sutures together, tie in such a way that it brings the uretheral mucous mem- brane and the margin of the skin in immediate contact and closes the blood vessels securely in such a manner as to guard against hemorrhage. By this plan when the sutures are tied, the cut borders of the fibrous envelope are brought together over the erectile tissue, thus preventing hemor- rhage from that tissue also. Insert as many sutures as may be required to completely and securely close the wound. Finally leave every part wholly covered with epithelium. By this plan we hope to avoid stricture of the urethra in the process of healing. Remove the tourniquet and release the patient. 27. VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. FIGS. 10, Ir AND PLatH X VILL. Objects. The alleviation of vice when related to ovarian irritation or disease. Instruments. .Colin’s scalpel, ratchet ecrasure, 55 cm. long. Preparation of patient. It is highly important that the animal should be kept ona scant laxative diet for at least 24 hours and preferably longer prior to the operation, so that the alimentary canal shall be somewhat empty and thus decrease the tension within that cavity and relieve the operator from much annoyance due to the pressure of the viscera. Technic. The vulvo-vaginal canal of the mare is unique in its physiological behavior. Under venereal excitement or the introduction of the operator’s hand or of tepid water the organ has the power of ‘‘ballooning’’ or dilating to a degree not seen so far as we know in other animals; the VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. 109 walls become erected, hard, and stand apart from each other, filling the pelvic cavity, the vaginal walls resting firmly against the pelvic bones at every part except at the points where the bladder and rectum intervene and these organs are pressed out flat and occupy a minimum space. In the quiescent state the vaginal walls are in contact and from the perinaeum forward to within about 10 cm. of the uterine os, the vulva and vagina are connected above with the rectum by the pelvic connective tissue, while anterior to this point the vagina is covered by peritoneum, and it is in this area that the incision needs be made in the operation. The ballooning of the vagina profoundly alters the relation of this operative area, OA, Plate XVIII, and changes it from the horizontal in the quiescent organ to the perpendicular FIG. 10 Special spraying ecraser, 55 cm. long. Fic. 11. Colin’s scalpel. in the ballooned condition. These variations permit of two methods of operating: I. On the ballooned organ with- out anaesthesia and with the animal confined in a standing position. II. In the quiescent organ in the recumbent posi- tion under anaesthesia : I. Without anaesthesia. Secure in the stocks with the head elevated, a rope over the back to prevent rearing, straps beneath the body to prevent lying down, straps or ropes before and behind the animal to prevent backward PLATE XVIII. VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. Diagrammatic sagittal section through the ‘‘ballooned’’ vagina. V, vagina; OA, opera tive area; I, point of incision; U, uterus; R, rectum ; A, aorta with dotted lines posteriorly to indicate location of the iliacs. SS ee ee EZ ara as. ——— eae = oe S = SE SS ————— i tera es Die Bai) ELT NC — — ae ais Ree MAF We | | J ae ; F / Be) on iy) yp VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. LZ and forward movements, all four feet pinioned to the floor, and the tail firmly secured and stretched to a beam above. With soap, water and brush cleanse the tail, perineuin and vulva thoroughly, being especially careful to remove all detachable masses of sebum ; 50 per cent. alcohol may be used sparingly to aid in removing this. ‘Too free a use of alcohol excoriates the delicate skin. Cleanse the clitoris carefully. Follow the washing with a free application of I : 1000 aqueous sublimate solution to the external parts and for a short distance inside the vulvar lips and to the clitoris. Do not introduce irritant disinfectants into the healthy vagina nor deeply into the vulva as'it may cause severe straining during and subsequent to the operation and by in- juring the vulvo-vaginal mucosa favor subsequent infection of the vaginal wound. Wash away the sublimate with a tepid .6 per cent. soda bicarbonate solution, and fill the vulvo-vaginal canal with the same. After thorough dis- infection of the hands and arms remove the disinfectants by washing in sterile soda solution, which at the same time renders the hand unctuous and readily introduced through the vulva. Armed with the guarded sterilized scalpel, Fig. II, introduce the right hand into the vagina promptly and when it is well ‘‘ ballooned ’’ unsheath the knife and plac- ing it just above the os uteri at I, Plate XVIII, parallel to the long axis of the uterus and a few mm. to the right or left of the median line, in order to avoid a loose fold of mucous membrane generally existing there, the blade be- ing held vertical, that is the cutting surface parallel to the longitudinal muscular fibers of the vagina, and guarding the possible extent of its introduction with the thumb and fingers, push it directly forward in a straight line with a quick thrust through vaginal mucosa, the muscular walls and the peritoneum, until the disappearance of resistance indicates that the latter has been penetrated. ‘This is the most critical step in the operation. 8 ig YF VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. If the hand is introduced immediately after the injection of the sterile saline solution the vagina will generally be found ‘‘ ballooned ’’ or will quickly become inflated under manual movements. If the solution is thrown out the va- gina may collapse and closely invest the hand, in which case more of the liquid should be injected when it will again dilate. If the hand is introduced without the knife, with- drawn and then introduced with it, it will be frequently found that the vagina has collapsed and needs a second fill- ing with the fluid. Patience until dilation is accomplished and promptness to act when attained are prime requisites to success. The knife should be pushed through the va- gina quickly making a clean wound the width of the blade, when the latter is to be withdrawn and laid aside. It should be remembered that in this ‘‘ ballooned ’’ state, the anterior wall of the vagina is but 2 or 3 mm. thick and easily pene- trated. Introduce the hand again, push one finger into the incision, then a second and third, and eventually hold- ing all the fingers in the form of a cone push thevemtmee hand into the peritoneal cavity. Immediately below the incision and continuous with the tissues involved in the wound lies the uterus with a transverse diameter of 4 to 6 ) em. With the palm of the hand downwards, trace the uterus, U, Plate XVIII, forward a distance of 15 to 18 cm., where it ends abruptly in two cornua of about the same size as the body, which are given off horizontally at almost right angles. Trace these to the right and left for a distance of 14 or 15 cm., where they end obtusely, and 3 or 4 cm. beyond this in a dircct line, resting upon the anterior border of the broad ligament is the dense oval ovary varying in size from 2.5 to 7 em. in diameter. Prepare the ecraseur for Gseiay withdrawing the chain until the loop is of barely sufficient size to admit of its being readily slipped over the ovary. Grasp this loop and the end of the ecraseur tube in the hand which is to be used in the operation and carry the in- VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. [15 strument to the ovary and drop the loop over it from above. Pass some of the fingers beneath the ovary and push it up through the chain loop and grasp it there with the thumb and index finger. Holding the ovary with one hand tighten the chain quickly with the other, examine to make sure that a loop of intestine is not caught, draw the ovary well through and get a large portion of the oviduct, and cut off promptly, holding to the gland until carried out through the vulva. Remove the other ovary in the same way. Generally it is most convenient to remove the left ovary with the right hand and vice-versa but each may be re- moved with either hand. Wash away any blood from the external parts, apply sublimate solution freely to the vulva, perineum and tail. Keep the patient quiet for five or six days, and feed lightly on a laxative diet. If. In operating under anaesthesia the animal should be cast or confined upon the operating table in lateral re- cumbency preferably with the posterior part of the body somewhat higher than the anterior so as to avoid visceral pressure in the pelvic cavity. Place the animal under com- plete anaesthesia. Prepare the parts in the same manner as already described. Carry the knife into the vagina in the manner previously described and render the roof of that organ tense by pushing the os uteri downward and forward with the hand or by means of a vaginal tensor or speculum. It is important that the vagina be held well down toward the floor of the pelvis so as to carry it away from the rectum and posterior aorta and its branches while the incision is being made. ‘The incision is now to be made just above and behind and a trifle to one side of the os uteri in essential- ly the same manner as under I, except that the cut is now made upward and backward instead of directly forward. The remainder of the operation is identical with what we have described under I. Under anaesthesia the vagina is flaccid and can not be made to ‘“‘ balloon.’’ jul VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. DANGERS. W ounding of the rectum is scarcely possible under the first method if care is taken not to attempt the incision until the vagina is well ‘‘ballooned,’’ and then making the stab wound directly forward. If made upwards when the organ is so erected the accident is highly probable, and with the undilated vagina where it is necessary to cut upwards the danger is ever present. Its prevention demands that in: I, the operator await the complete ‘‘ ballooning ’’ and then make his incision as directed. In II, the accident is to be prevented by being careful to push the vagina down away from the rectum and hold it away while the incision is being made. If the wound in the rectum passes through the pelvic connective tissue behind the peritoneum it is of little consequence, but the operation should be abandoned ; if the bowel is opened into the peritoneal cavity the accident is fatal. W ounding of the iliac arteries, which produces prompt death from hemorrhage, results from the incision being made upwards instead of forwards when the vagina is ‘‘ballooned’’ or from a failure to hold the roof of the vagina down and away from the part while making the incision in the flaccid organ as is the case with the recumbent animal under anaesthesia. It is most likely to occur with timid operators who become nervous, especially when the vagina does not ‘balloon’? promptly or the mare is not well secured. ‘The accident is wholly unnecessary if the operator will await the ‘‘ ballooning’’ in the first operation while by the second method it is prevented by proper care in holding the vagina downward and forward during the incision. When it has occurred it is generally beyond remedy. W ounding of the uterus may occur when the incision is directed downward and may greatly embarrass the operator and confuse him by passing the hand through the incision into the uterine cavity. M is to be avoided in the first VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. 07 operation by carefully directing the incision straight for- wards; when the accident occurs it is of little consequence beyond the embarrassment and may be overcome by again dilating the vagina with fresh injections of the soda solution and making a new incision, or if preferred the first cut may be corrected by placing an index finger against the perito- neum at the upper part of the wound, and with a sudden and vigorous thrust break through into the peritoneal cavity, or the error may be corrected by again using the scalpel and directing the incision properly. If it is at- tempted to rupture the peritoneum with the finger it must be done by a sharp thrust since otherwise a large section of it will be pushed away from the subjacent tissues. Incomplete penetration of the vaginal wall is liable to occur if the scalpel is du// or the vagina imperfectly ‘‘bal- looned ’’ and flaccid, or if the operator is unduly timid. It is best prevented by avoiding the causes as related, and once it has occurred it is generally best to again ‘‘ balloon ”’ the organin the operation without anaesthesia and make a new incision either to the right or left of the first. It may be overcome also by thrusting the index finger through the peritoneum as described in the preceding paragraph or completing the cut with the scalpel. The mistaking of a ball of feces forthe ovary has oc- curred to inexperienced operators and the fatal error of re- moving the portion of the rectum surrounding the fecal pellet committed. ‘The blunder is uncalled for; the fecal ball is movable in the bowel, the intestine is far more massive than the broad ligament, and the ovary is to be definitely identified by its being lodged in the broad ligament just beyond the end of the cornua, which is continuous with the uterus. If, therefore, one traces the uterus forward to the coruna, thence along these to their extremities and along the border of the broad ligament to the ovary, as above directed, the error will not occur. 118 VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. The incision may be made too low and pass beneath the broad ligament. It is to be avoided by being careful to keep close to the median line and above the os uteri. If it occurs the operation may be completed from beneath with- out very great difficulty only that the ovary now lies above the hand and must be drawn down from on top the broad ligament in order to fix the ecraseur upon it Infection constitutes always the most serious danger and is to be avoided by proper securing of the animal, by the avoidance of irritant antiseptics in the vagina, by rigid anti- sepsis at every stage, and by carrying out the mechanical parts of the operation deliberately, vigorously and neatly. If infection should occur it will generally take the form of pelvic cellulitis with abscesses and rectal stricture. Enemas of a normal salt or soda solution affords the surest relief of the stricture and impaction in front of it. The abscesses must be watched and opened early into the vagina or rec- tum, and the case treated internally and locally according to general surgical principles. VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE COW. L19Q 28. VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE COW. Objects. Increasing the fat or milk-producing qualities and the cure of nymphomania. Instruments. Colin’s scalpel, vaginal dilator, Miles’ spaying shears, spaying ecraseur. Technic. Confine the cow in the standing position in the stocks, secure the head firmly and pass two boards be- neath the abdomen and sternum to prevent lying down, and a rope over the middle of the back to prevent arching of the spinal column and straining. Wash and disinfect the tail and the perineum and flush out the vagina with a .5 per cent. solution of carbolic acid or lysol at a temperature of about 100° F. Insert the vaginal dilator with one hand and push the prolongation at the anterior end into the os uteri. With the other hand elevate the handle of the dilator and depress and push for- ward the uterus, thus rendering the roof of the vagina tense and pushing it downward away from the rectum. Carry the scalpel into the vagina with the right hand and resting it in the oval of the dilator make an incision through the roof of the vagina, beginning at a point 8 to 10cm. posterior to the os uteri and extending backward on the median line for a distance of 2 or 3cm. Becareful to make the incision entirely through the mucosa, muscle and peritoneum at the first cut, since any failure to complete it tends to cause the peritoneum to separate from the muscular coat and form a pocket between them, while the serous membrane being very elastic renders it difficult to complete the incision. Introduce two fingers through the incision, and reaching over the side of the vagina to the right or the left, the right or left ovary respectively is recognized lying immediately against thé vagina somewhat below it, just at the anterior border of the pubis, in a mass consisting of the cord-like Fallopian tube and the fimbriz of its pavilion. The ovary 20 VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE COW. may be distinguished as a firm oval mass 2 to 4 cm. in length and 1 to 2 cm. in its lesser diameter attached to the broad ligament. If not promptly recognized by the sense of touch, trace the vagina and uterus forwards with the fingers from the vaginal incision to the cornua and follow them as they bend forward and downward, and then backward and up- ward to the oviducts, until the ovary is reached where it is attached to the broad ligament, just beyond the fimbriated end. Grasp the ovary between the fingers and draw it through the incision into the vagina. Introduce the scissors with the other hand, and when the ovary is reached open them barely sufficient to admit its attachments between the blades and cut it away along with a portion of the broad ligament. Or introduce the ecraseur and drawing the ovary through the loop of the chain and holding it securely until the instrument is tightened, crush it off in this way. It is essential that plenty of the broad ligament and oviduct be excised with the ovary to insure the entire 1emoval of the latter, because the accidental leaving of the smallest particle of ovarian tissue will cause a development of this into abnormally large Graafian follicles, and will tend to increase instead of decrease nymphomania. Should the animal be pregnant the ovary on the gravid side is dragged downward and forward out of reach of the operator's fingers, and if it is desired to complete the operation it may be necessary to enlarge the vaginal wound and introduce the entire hand, when the ovary can be reached and re- moved. Generally no after care 1s necessary. The Dangers are similar to those of the mare. ‘The iliac arteries may be wounded in the same manner as in the mare and is preventable by being careful to push the vaginal roof well downwards away from the rectum and sacrum. In rare instances fatal hemorrhage follows the cutting off of the ovaries with the scissors especially in cows which are very fat and lack tone as a result of close confinement. For \ OVARIOTOMY IN THE COW BY THE FLANK. 121 this reason it is apparently safer in confined cows to use the ecraseur but even this instrument is not wholly proof against hemorrhage and fatalities have been rarely recorded after its use so that some veterinarians have advised ligation of the arteries instead but this is a complex process which re- quires much time for its accomplishment. A new danger appears in the presence of the rumen, the supero-posterior portion of which projects into the pelvic cavity when filled with food and if the cut is directed forwards a stab wound readily penetrates its walls with fatal results. Make the cut upwards and backwards. 29. OVARIOTOMY IN THE COW BY THE FLANK. Instruments. Clipping shears, convex scalpel, spaying shears, or ecraseur, heavy needle and thread. Uses. Same as the preceding, applicable to heifers or to cows in which the vulva is too small to admit the operator’s hand or in case of diseased vagina or uterus. The animal may be secured as in the preceding or con- fined in lateral recumbency with the hind legs extended backward and the anterior limbs forward. ‘To accomplish this loop a rope about the two fore feet, another about the two hind feet, and drawing upon these, cast the animal and secure it in recumbency with the legs extended and body stretched by fastening the ropes to two strong posts about 8 to 10 mapart. ‘The operation may be performed in either flank. Clip the hair from the upper part of the flank, disinfect an area 15 to 25 cm. square and make an incision about 12 em. long beginning at a point equi-distant from the anterior tuberosity of the ilium, the ends of the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae and the last rib and extend it down- ward perpendicularly severing the skin and subcutaneous muscle. Divide the external oblique muscle in the direction 122 QOVARTOLOUMY IN-THE-BIT Cy. of its fibres by means of the scalpel handle or the fingers and repeat the process upon the internal oblique after which puncture the peritoneum with- the. scalpel. Foree fene hand through the opening into the peritoneal cavity and search for the ovaries at the same point and by the same method as in the preceding operation, that is, locate the uterus within the pelvic cavity, between the rectum and bladder and trace it and then the cornu, and broad ligament to the ovary. The uppermost ovary can be drawn out through the wound and cut off with the scissors or ecraseur ; the lower one must be held with one hand and the instru- ment introduced along the arm and when the ovary is reached, apply the scissors or ecraseur and cut or crush it off. ‘The beginner must always remember that the posi- tive means for identifying the ovaries is by tracing the uterus from the vagina along its cornua to the Fallopian tube and thence to the organ in the broad ligament. Cleanse the wound and close the skin incision with con- tinuous sutures. 30. OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH BY THE FLANK. PRATE XX. Instruments. Spaying knife, suture material. Technic. Confine the antmal in lateral recumbeneys preferably upon the right side for a right handed operator, the head somewhat depressed, the limbs extended and the body well stretched. Clip, shave and disinfect a sufficient area in the exposed flank at a point just anterior to and be- neath the external angle of the ilium. With one hand grasp the skin fold of the flank and render the skin of the region tense, while with the other holding the spaying knife likea pen make at first a drawing incision from below upward about 2 to 3 cm. long, ending above at a point slightly below the external angle of the ilium, the incision extending through OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH. n23 the skin and subcutaneous tissues ; without removing the knife from the wound elevate the handle and with a quick thrust make a stab wound extending through the external and internal oblique muscles and peritoneum at a single cut. The operator can determine when the peritoneal cavity has been entered by the disappearance of resistance. Introduce an index finger into the peritoneal cavity, and as soon as this has been entered follow directly along the peritonenm upward and backward toward the angle of the ilium where the uterine cornua lie covered over by the broad ligament. The internal generative organs of the bitch are unique among our domesticated animals. The uterus, U, Plate XIX, is small and physiologically unimportant, the cornua, RUC and 1,UC, are ample in size and constitute physiologically the uterus. ‘The distance from the cornual extremity, LUC, to the ovary, O, which is occupied by the Fallopian tube is very brief so that the cornua and ovary are well nigh in contact. The ovary, O, O, is very small, smooth and com- pletely hidden in the pavilion which here constitutes a sac having a very small longitudinal opening of 2 to 5 mm. The most remarkable feature of the apparatus from a surg1- cal standpoint is the great development of the broad ligament which is broader than the distance from the lumbar region to the abdominal floor, while the uterus and uterine cornua are stretched between the vagina, V, and the ovary, O, so that they are suspended in the sub-lumbar region resulting in a double fold of the broad ligament hanging down like a curtain between the parietal peritoneum and the uterus and cornua on either side. The broad ligament of the bitch is consequently suspended at one point from the sub-lumbar region, at the other from the uterus, so that instead of that organ being suspended by the ligament the relation is re- versed and the ligament is suspended from the uterus, or rather uterine cornua. In Plate XIX the right broad ligament, BL/, is laid out PLATE XIX. OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH. Abdomen of a non-pregnant bitch lying on the back with the abdominal floor removed and the omentum pushed away. TT, the two pos- terior teats; B, bladder ; V, vayina; U, uterus ; LUC, LUG, left uterine cornua with a portion of its broad ligament, BL, lying acrossit ; RUC, right uterine cornua with its broad ligament, BL/, turned outwards exposing the full length of the cornua. On the left side the ligament is divided so that the anterior half rests in its nor- mal position while the posterior half, BL/, is turned back. O, O, ovaries ; R, rectum ; K, left kidney; AA, a line indicating the level of the external tuberosities of the ilia. ~ rnc Fs, ; OVARTOTOMY INOLAE BIT CE L277 upon the side exposing the right uterine cornu, RUC, while on the left side the ligament is divided at about its center and the posterior portion, BL’, is laid out on the flank, while the anterior, BL, is left in its normal position con- cealing a portion of the cornu, LUC. Unlike our other domesticated animals, the broad ligament is heavily loaded with fat which gives it an appearance very similar to the omentum, but the net-work is far less conspicuous or want- ing, the omentum also extends back into this region so that the two are in contact. The ovary being indistinct and hidden is difficult to identify directly, and the cornua being covered over by the duplicature of the broad ligament is not readily reached, so that the finger generally comes in con- tact first with the broad ligament of the uppermost cornu hanging loose in the peritoneal cavity : engage this between the end of the finger and the abdominal wall and draw it out through the wound, grasp it and continue drawing upon the folds of the ligament, especially upon the median or under- most portion until the naked cornu appears through the open- ing, seize it and draw out the anterior portion until the ovary follows, then grasp the latter with the thumb and index finger of one hand and the ovarian ligament with the same members of the other and tear the ligament through be- tween them by linear tension. Extend the tear through the broad ligament as high toward its lumbar attachment as is convenient and backward to the neighborhood of the uter- ine bifurcation. Draw upon the exposed cornu until the bi- furcation appears, when the other branch is to be grasped and drawn out through the opening. In young puppies the securing of the second cornua is very difficult and requires great care to prevent its rupture. The object may be facili- tated by pressing the upper flank of the bitch downward, thereby greatly diminishing the transverse diameter of the abdomen. — The succeeding operation (31) avoids this difficulty in a 128 OVARIOTOMY IN THE -BITCH. large measure. Should the distal cornu be ruptured and with its ovary drop away from the operator, it becomes nec- essary to turn the animal over and make a second incision on the opposite side, somewhat further forward. When the second cornua has been secured draw it out as far as practica- ble and holding it tense insert an index finger along it until the ovary is reached, which is recognized by its slightly greater size and density succeeding the brief neck represent- ing the Fallopian tube between the end of the cornu and ovary, while beyond it can be felt the ovarian ligament. Kngage the ligament between the end of the index finger and the abdominal wall, and with a firm and vigorous move- ment, using the finger end and nail as a curette, rupture the ovarian ligainent by drawing the finger toward the in- cision, and with the aid of tension upon the cornu draw the ovary out through the abdominal incision and divide the broad ligament as before. Remove the cornua with the attached ovaries by rupturing them transversely near the bifurcation by means of linear tension. If the bitch be pregnant and especially if far advanced the uterine coronua will le upon the abdominal floor, much en- larged and very much more flaccid than the nongravid uterus and feeling very much like intestines. The change in the position of the uterus has caused the unfolding of the dupli- cature of the broad ligament so that it no longer covers the cornu. In such cases the operation is performed in the same way except that rupturing the blood vessels by linear ten- sion does not insure against hemorrhage and it is necessary to ligate the ovarian and uterine arteries with catgut or silk. In cases of pregnancy the entire cornua should be drawn out and astrong ligature placed around the uterus or vagina; and the ovaries, uterine cornua and their contents be re- moved ev masse. Release the upper posterior limb and close the cutaneous wound by a continuous suture. Dangers. Ruptureofthe uterine cornu alluded to above. OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH. 129 It is always to be remembered that the leaving of one ovary in position even though the other gland with the two cornua and uterus are removed, induces intense oestrum and renders the animal if anything more disagreeable than be- fore the operation. The ureter may be mistaken for the cornu but is smaller, is closely attached to the abdominal walls, and does not have the broad ligament with its large deposit of fat. The kidney is far larger than the ovary, more exposed, and located more anteriorly. The iliac arteries are at times caught and ruptured by the finger but the blunder is uncalled for except through nervousness of the operator. Instances of puncturing the bladder in making the in- cision have been reported. If the bitch has been led out and caused to urinate prior to operating, the accident is made practically impossible. 31. OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH BY THE LINEA ALBA. PLATE XIX. Instruments. Same as in the preceding. Technic. Confine in the dorsal position with the head sharply declined. Shave and disinfect an area on the median line about 6 cm. square extending forward from the pubic brim. Make an incision on the median line about 4 cm. long beginning just in front of the pubic brim and extend- ing forward cutting entirely through the skin, the linea alba and peritoneum. Insert an index finger and identify the uterus or broad ligament by its location and form. ‘The finger usually comes in contact first with the urinary bladder which may more or less obstruct the passage to the uterus according to its degree of distension. When empty as shown at B, it offers practically no obstruction. When 9 130 QVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH. very much distended it may be evacuated by gentle pressure with the fingers. The operator should be careful not to draw the bladder out through the incision as its replace- ment may prove difficult and its puncture with the hypo- dermic needle or an enlargement of the abdominal incision may be necessary in order to bring about its return. Push the bladder aside if necessary and just above it and below the rectum the uterus should be readily distinguished and either it or the broad ligament caught by the finger and brought out through the incision after which the operation preceeds in the same manner as by the flank method. By passing an index finger forward to reach the lower surface of the rec- tum in front of the uterus and then drawing it backwards the finger passes between the former and the cornua and the latter is picked up. It has a distinct advantage over the flank method in that in puppies there is not so much difficulty in bringing out the ovaries, nor the danger of the rupture of the cornua and the ovary being retained. By the use of retractors in the abdominal incision the operator is enabled to see the uterus in position and grasp it by means of forceps, obviating the necessity for introducing the finger into the peritoneal cavity. The sutures must extend entirely through the abdominal wall and be carefully placed in order to prevent hernia. Interrupted sutures are preferable. If the operation has been properly performed no bandage is necessary and the patient will not disturb the sutures. If asepsis has not been strictly followed infec- tion may occur and the consequent irritation cause the patient to tear the sutures out, which may lead to protrusion of the intestines or other abdominal viscera. If the sutures do not include the deeper layers of the abdominal wall hernia is liable to occur and require a second operation. OVARIOTOMY IN THE CAT. ie Wi 32. OVARIOTOMY IN THE CAT. Instruments. Same as for the bitch. Technic. The cat may be spayed by either the flank method or through the linea alba. ‘The point of incision in either case is the same as in the bitch but owing to the smaller size of the animal it is necessary tomake the wound quite small. The abundance of fur renders it essential that an ample area be shaved and the surrounding hair be saturated with a disinfectant and carefully brushed away from the operative area. The cat being more subject to infection than the bitch the aseptic precautions must be of the strictest possible character. The operative area must be thoroughly disinfected and cleansed and equal care must be taken not to introduce irritant disinfectants into the wound. A great danger also exists in the tendency of the abdominal muscle layers to readily become separated by pressure from the finger and form a pocket in which wound discharges accumulate and constitute a dangerous seat for infection. Great care must therefore be taken to make a clean incision directly into the peritoneal cavity and to avoid separating the peritoneum from the muscles or the muscular layers from each other. The uterus and ovaries of the cat are naked and far more easily distinguished than in the bitch, there being no extra deposit of fat in the broad ligament. The sutures are to be applied to the wound in the same manner as in the bitch. 132 CASTRATION. OF CRYPTORCHID: HORSES: 33. CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSES. PLATES XX AND XXII. Instruments. Scalpel, emasculator. Technic. Confine the animal by casting in the dorsal position with the hocks well flexed and both posterior limbs completely abducted so as to fully expose the inguinal region. Orsecure upon the operating table on the side opposite to the retained gland and abduct the upper posteri- or limb by drawing it upward by means ofapulley. Cleanse and disinfect the inguinal region. Anaesthetize. Make an incision about 1o to 12 cm. long through the skin and subcutaneous tissue directly over the normal position of the scrotum, parallel to the median raphe about 4 or 5 cm. distant from it. Insert the two index fingers in the wound and press them into the areoler tissue toward the external inguinal ring and then drawing them apart separate the tissues sufficiently to permit the entrance of the hand. With the fingers held in the shape of a cone bore a passage in the areolar tissue through the external abdominal ring and continue in a direction approximately toward the ex- ternal angle of the ilium. Unless rectal exploration shows that the testicle is within the abdomen, take care in travers- ing the inguinal space between the external and internal rings that the gland is not passed by unrecognized (inguinal cryptorchidy) lying in this region covered by peritoneum and the cremasteric fascia. Search in the muscular wall for the internal inguinal ring which varies greatly in different individuals but usually reveals itself to the fingers as an oblong slit or ring covered only by peritoneum. Through this may extend a portion of the gubernaculum testis or of the vas deferens or epididymus which latter may have descended into the scrotum while the testicle remains in the abdomen. ‘ CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSES. 133 Examining Plate XX, the peritoneal view of the internal ring is shown crossed by the dotted line, V, of the upper or right testicle, into which extends a short distance the tail of the epididymus. In the lower or left testicle the ring has been opened and the gland lies in a position correspond- ing to the right and showing the epididymus and vas defer- ens lying in the processus vaginalis, P. ‘The surgical rela- tion of the parts is further illustrated in Plate X XI, where the testicle is completely withdrawn into the peritoneal cavity and spread out over the right flank. The processus vaginalis, P, is outlined by a dotted line into which is in- troduced a curved sound, S, along side which lies the gubernaculum, G. The gubernaculum, it will be observed is divisible into three sections, a slender one, G, which by passing along behind the peritoneum escapes from the abdominal cavity at the postero-external commissure of the ring to extend to the scrotum. The second portion of this organ, G’, is much thicker and extends from G to the epididymus at E; while the third division, G’”’, extends from the epididymus to the testicle. In Plate X XI it is shown that the testicle under all ordinary conditions is inevitably attached through its gubernaculum testis to the posterio-external commissure of the ring and that it has a second definite attachment to the seminal bladder through the medium of the vas deferens, V, and a third by mears of the testicular artery, A. The guber- naculum and the vas-deferens constitute the essential guides in locating and recognizing the testicle. By forming a hollow cone with the fingers about the in- ternal ring, the vas deferens, epididymus and gubernaculum tend to drop out into the processus vaginalis where they may be grasped with the fingers without the peritoneum having been ,ruptured. ‘The vas deferens and epididymus present characteristics which are unmistakable to the trained touch consisting of a small firm cord (vas deferens) PLATE XX. CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSE. Urino genital apparatus of 24 hr. colt. T, T, testicle ; A, testicular artery ; G, gubernaculum testis ; V, V, vas deferens ; B, urinary bladder ; UA, umbilical arteries retracted within abdomen; P, processus vaginalis ; UV, umbilical vein. 'tetanen ree CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSES. 137 or a small mass of fine threads (tail of epididymus) which roll freely betweeu the thumb and finger and give a sensa- tion which is unlike that produced by any other tissue in the body. Grasp the part firmly and tearing through the peritoneum seize the vas deferens and carefully draw it out through the external wound. (In teaching cryptorchid castration to the beginner we make our opening down to the internal ring and grasp the vas deferens between the thumb and finger without penetrating the peritioneal cavity and then passing a pair of long uterine dressing forceps along the hand, fasten them upon the vas deferens. The student then completes the operation, using the forceps as a guide. He thus learns the direction and character of the parts and recognizes the internal ring with the peritoneum still stretched across it, intact. ) In case the vas deferens can not be felt before rupturing the peritoneum, it may be broken through with the index finger and inserting this into the cavity the gubernaculum is found attached to the postero-external border of the ring, and but a short distance therefrom the finger comes in con- tact with the vas deferens or with the tail of the epididymus where the gubernaculum crosses it at H, in Plate X XI. Hav- ing reached the vas deferens the operation is proceeded with as above. ‘Thus far the operator has not concerned himself with the location of the testicle but relies wholly upon the vas deferens or gubernaculum, since when either of these are recognized the testicle is virtually within his power. He thus preceeds upon the basis that he is not to jd the testicle for the reason that it is not Jost but that it has de- finite relations and attachments which permit of certain displacements of the organ itself but not of its attachments. Having drawn the vas deferens out through the wound tension is exerted upon it which tends to cause the testicle to follow but sometimes the gland is too large to pass the internal ring and the latter needs to be dilated some by ‘soliayie [eor[iqmin “yO ‘ 1apperq Azeutim ‘q ! eljuerajap esea ‘A ‘A { Aroyre repnorsa} ‘y : 9[91}89} ‘J, aporjsay 94} 0} (1ourm snqo[3) snmApipide woy Sutpus}xe mn[noeusaqns ‘5 - snmApipida ‘a ‘4 ‘snmApipida aq} 0} Surpuazxa sijsoq tn[noeuss -qn3 jo uonsod puogas ‘,5 ‘ s1js9} mn[Noensaqns JO uorj10d ys1y ‘9 SS ‘PpunOs paaimd & SululeyUOD pue sul] peyop e Aq papunosms SI[BUISeA snssaooid ‘q ‘3]09 ‘siq bz Jo 92]91}s9} pue nolex ]euMsul WO Sy ‘HSUOH CGIHOAOIdAUD dO NOILVULSVD ‘IXX dLv Ig + ary be EM =i.’ ‘stp: rie x > ae Bote - ee 4 ae CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSES. I41 means of inserting an index finger in it or the testicle needs to be guided through the opening. We have described herein one method of castrating a cryptorchid horse where the cryptorchidy is due to an arrest in the development of the gland and of its descent. ‘There are other methods employed which introduce variations at at each step, many operators making the incision over the external ring instead of near the median line and it is even more common for the operator to avoid opening the internal ring and penetrating the peritoneal cavity somewhat in front of and above it through the small oblique muscles. When one plan has been learned the variations are easily applied. There are other causes of cryptorchidy in rare cases which require a different procedure in order to extract the gland which varies with particular cases but the essentials for the discovery and recognition of the testicle are the same. Prior to attempting the operation it is well to make a rectal exploration and determine as far as may be the loca- tion of the testicle, whether it be on the right or left side, and its character, should it be in any way pathologic. After the testicle is brought to the surface it may be removed with the emasculator or by such means as the operator may prefer. Cryptorchid testicles when due to arrest in develop- ment are not vascular and there is little tendency to hemor- rhage after excision. Place an antiseptic tampon in the wound, pushing it well up against the internal ring and re- tain it in position by means of sutures for a period of 24 to 48 hours when it is removed and the wound dressed anti- septically. The operation for cryptorchidy in the smaller animals is essentially the same as in the horse except that the incision is to be made ordinarily through the flank as in spaying. The same’attachments are to be our guide and the operation is to proceed upon almost parallel lines. IV. ‘OPERATIONS ON THE EXTREMITIBS: 34. TENOTOMY OF THE FLEXOR PEDIS TENDONS. PLATE XXII. | Objects. The relief of contraction of the flexor tendons of the foot. Instruments. Razor, scissors, sharp tenotome, bandage material. Technic. ‘Tenotomy is generally performed on the deep, or flexor pedis tendon, seldom on the superficial, or flexor of the os coronae. Confine upon the operating table with the affected member undermost and the foot fully extended. In default of a table confine in lateral recumbency and apply an exten- sion splint to the foot as shown in Plate XXII. On the median side at the middle of the metacarpus or metatarsus the skin is shaved and disinfected over the tendon of the flexor pedis muscle. The location named lies between the lower extremity of the great carpal or tarsal sheath above and the superior extremity of the tendonous sheath of the fetlock below, so that neither of these is wounded during the operation, but the tendon is severed at a point where it is invested by loose connective tissue which retains the divided ends in their normal line of direction, somewhat fixed, and favors their ultimate reunion. Grasp the metacarpus or metatarsus in this area from above and behind in such a manner that the thumb rests upon the median or upper surface, and the index and second fingers on the lateral or under side of the flexor pedis tendon. While the left thumb pushes the skin toward the bone, that is, forward, a sharp pointed tenotome held per- pendicularly in the right hand is introduced with the cutting edge toward the hoof through the skin, subcutem and anti- brachial fascia down to the flexor pedis tendon. Immedi- 142 ‘aopus} Joxey daap ‘¢ : ajosnm soxey [eoysodns ay} Jo uopuay, ‘s ‘yards uolsue}xa aq} uodn punog ass0y JO 400} ALF IYI ‘SNOGNHY], SIGH YOXHIY AHL AO AWOLONYY] ‘IIXX BLVIg 144 PERONEAL TENOTOMY. ately on the anterior bordor of the tendon insert the teno- tome so far that the point of it can be felt on the lateral or outer side through the skin with the left hand. The cut- ting edge of the knife is then turned against the tendon of the flexor pedis, that is, it is directed backward, the foot is extended by an assistant with the aid of a rope bound around the pastern and looped over the hoof, and the ex- tensor pedis tendon is cut through under light pressure, the operator pressing the handle of the knife downward and forward, using the metacarpus or suspensory ligament as a fulcrum upon which the back of the tenotome rests as a lever. A loud cracking, as well as the disappearance of resistance to extension shows that the tendon has been severed. By keeping as close to the anterior border of the tendon as possible we can avoid injury to the plantar nerve, the common digital artery, the internal cutaneous, and the internal and external interosseous veins which run between the flexor pedis and the suspensory hgament. After the removal of the knife and seeing that there is a wide space between the ends of the tendon, the foot is un- bound from the splint and a bandage applied to the meta- carpus, which rests upon the fetlock joint and remains in position for eight days. Healing of the cutaneous wound by primary union. 35. PERONEAL TENOTOMY. PLATE XXIII. Object. The relief of Stringhalt. Instruments. Razor, scissors, sharp tenotome. Technic. On the lateral side of the metatarsus a triangle, d, opening toward the tarsus is formed by the tendons of the extensor pedis longus muscle, /, and the lateral extensor of the foot, e, which unite on the anterior surface of the middle of the metatarsus. The synovial sheath of the extensor PEATE XI PERONEAL TENOTOMY FOR STRINGHALT. Right hind foot seen from the external side. The skin covering the lateral extensor of the foot is laid back in the form of a flap, the crural fascia divided. e¢, Peroneal tendon ; /, crural fascia ; /, tendon of the anterior extensor pedis miusele ; d, the triangle formed by / and e. IG 145 146 CUNEAN TENOTOMY. pedis longus muscle extends inferiorly to near the point of juncture of the two tendons ; the sheath of the lateral ex- tensor ends below 3 to 4 cm. above the point of union. In the middle of this space without a sheath, which is 3 to 4 cm. long, and below the annular ligament of the hock the operation is carried out. After the skin has been shaved and disinfected, confine in the stocks or operate upon the standing horse, with the aid of locz] anaesthesia, a twitch being applied to the nose and the opposite hind foot held up with the side-line. The tendon of the lateral extensor is easily felt: under the’ skin as a hard cord abouts, 7.sto oe cm. in diameter... Stretch the skin and with the back of the hand toward the hock grasp the tendon with the thumb and index finger of one hand, insert the tenotome with the cutting edge toward the foot perpendicularly upon the tendon through theskin, subcutem and aponeurosis derived from the crural fascia ; pushit from before backward under the tendon, turn the cutting edge against it, and with the hock extended sever the tendon as well as the fascia through to the skin. In accomplishing the section of the tendon the knife is to be used asa lever of the first class with the anterior border of the metatarsus acting as a fulcrum. If the tendon has been completely severed its retracted ends may be felt under the skin I to 2 cm. above and below the wound. After the op- eration an antiseptic bandage is applied, resting upon the fetlock. The bandage should remain eight days and the cutaneous wound heal by first intention. Care should be taken to not wound the tendon of the extenson pedis longus muscle. 36. CUNEAN TENOTOMY. PLATE XXIV. Objects. ‘The relief of spavin lameness. Instruments. Razor, scissors, straight scalpel, Peters’ spavin knife. Technic. Most horsescan be operated on standing, with PEATE X XTV, : CUNEAN TENOTOMY. For the relief of spavin lameness. CT, cunean tendon. The dotted line crosses the ergot. 148 NEUROTOMY. the aid of cocaine, otherwise cast, or secure on the operating table, on the affected side and extend the tarsus. Shave and disinfect an area 5 to6 cm. square on the inferior median surface of the hock over the course of the cunean tendon of the chief flexor of the metatarsus, as indicated in Plate XXIV. Locate the tendon, CT, by palpation as it passes obliquely downward and backward and make a transverse incision about 1 cm. below its inferior border at a point midway between the anterior and posterior borders of the hock, or slightly anterior thereto, the width of the scalpel blade. Push the tenotome flatwise between the skin and tendon, as shown in the plate, force it upwards to the superior border of the tendon, then turn the cutting edge toward it and elevating the handle, using the superior border of the wound as a fulcrum, cut the tendon through from without inwards. By firm pressure upon the tenotome in the latter method periosteotomy is simultaneously accom- plished. ‘The completion of the operation is evidenced by the separation of the cut ends of the tendon leaving a well- marked depression at the point of division. Disinfect the wound, apply an antiseptic bandage resting upon the fetlock and allow to remain undisturbed for six days. Healing by primary union. After the incision through the skin has been made, the Peters’ knife may be used instead of the straight scalpel, and the tendon and periosteum cut through at two or three different points, the cuts diverging upwards from the cutaneous wound, V-shaped. NEUROTOMY. General Remarks. Neurotomy is performed for a vari- ety of objects, such as the relief of pain in a sensitive nerve itself, as in trifacial neurotomy, 10, pp. 55-6, the relief of pain or lameness in a part supplied by a sensory nerve, or the inhibition of motor power, as in the ‘‘cribbing’’ opera- tion. : NEUROTOMY. 149 The following neurotomies are designed to relieve pain and the consequent lameness dependent upon a pathologic condition of some part or tissue on the distal side of the point of operation and to which the divided sensory nerve is destined. Neurotomy of a sensory nerve is always a painful opera- tion, and its performance without anaesthesia is unjustifiable from a humane standpoint, and cannot be so well done either from the view of mechanical correctness or the carrying out of antiseptic standards. Some neurotomies can be well per- formed on the standing animal if it is quiet and the operator is experienced, the parts being rendered insensitive by means of cocaine or other local anaesthetic; in the greater neurotomies general anaesthesia may be desirable or necessa- ry from the humane or operative standpoint. The confinement of animals for neurotomy on the sensory nerves of the extremities for the relief of lameness is always to be viewed as a critical procedure for the reason that the operation is generally made because of the local manifesta- tion of a more or less general disease which is accompanied by fragility of the skeleton, and asa result most casting acci- dents occur in cases of confining for neurotomy or firing in cases of lameness belonging to the great group of dry arthritis or spavin family. Casting must, therefore, be done with the greatest possible care, and the operating table is to be constantly and greatly preferred. Neurotomy is properly a last resort in lameness and should not otherwisé be performed. It has two great and ever present dangers. If the part deprived of sensation is too badly diseased to bear the weight and resist the insult result- ant upon the part being called to do its normal or even an extra amount of work, it must ultimately give way, the bones become fractured, the tendons separate from the bone, the intra-ungular tissues lose their integrity and the hoofs become detached (exungulation) or other degenerative 150 NEUROTOMY. changes take place as a result of causing a part to doa work for which its condition unfits it. The second great danger occurs from wounds or other traumatisms to the tissues distal to the operation when the unnerved parts are not rested as they would be in natural conditions when injured, and as a result reparative changes are prevented and supplanted by retrograde processes with ultimate death of the part and of the animal. Nerves are generally accompanied by satellite arteries and veins which are always hable to be wounded during the operation and are more embarassing because of the hemor- rhage clouding the operation field and inviting error than dangerous because of the loss of the blood itself. It is essen- tial to a good operation that the hemorrhage be kept under control throughout so that each tissue will stand out in good relief and the nerve reveal its identity in addition to its loca- tion, size and relations, by its intensely white, nacrous, striated character. The test of compressing the nerve in order to identify it by the resultant pain is unsurgical and unnecessarily cruel. Sepsis holds an important place in considering the dangers of neurotomy because the infection of a sensitive nerve causes very great pain and if considerable, tends to cause a false neuroma or fibroma in the connective tissue of the nerve trunk, calling for a second operation in order to re- move the tumor, and resultant lameness. Neurotomies should consequently be performed only in properly selected cases, the smallest possible trunk that will sufficiently relieve the pain should be selected for the opera- tion, it should be performed with due regard for suffering and for asepsis, should be performed quickly and neatly, the incisions being free, laying the nerve trunk bare without tearing up the tissues and clouding them and at every point aim at celerity, accuracy and neatness. \ DIGITAL NEUROTOMY. I51 37. DIGITAL NEUROTOMY. PLATE XXV. Objects. The relief of navicular lameness in cases where plantar neurotomy is not deemed necessary or advisable. Instruments. Razor, scissors, scalpel, probe pointed bistoury, tenacula, aneurism needles, bandages. Technic. Digital neurotomy may generally be perform- ed on the standing animal, the operative area having first been anaesthetized by means of cocaine or otherwise, a twitch applied to the upper lip and the affected foot held up by the assistant. If necessary because of restlessness of the animal or inexperience of the operator, confine on the oper- ating table or cast the animal and apply the extension splint to the foot to be operated on as shown in Plate X XII, except that the lower binding cords rest on the metacarpus instead of the pastern. - Extending downwards from the fetlock joint toward the coronet, between the posterior border of the phalanges and deep flexor tendon there isa slight furrow, at the posterior part of which, close to the external margin of the tendon, lies the median or principal digital nerve ac- companied in front by the digital artery, A, anterior to which lies the digital vein, V. Immediately behind the nerve and generally lying a trifle deeper, is quite commonly found a second venous trunk of considerable size. Near the middle of the first phalanx the nerve is crossed externally in an oblique direction from above to below and from behind to before by 2 white ligamentous band, L, slightly broader than the nerve extending from the base of the ergot of the fetlock to the retrossal process of the pedal bone. This must not be mistaken for the nerve, N, and need not be if it is re- membered that the latter is accompanied on the same plane and ina like direction by the satellite artery, A, and vein, V, enclosed with it in a fibrous sheath. At the uppermost part of the first phalanx the nerve lies in front of this ligament, — PLATE XXV. DIGITAL NEUROTOMY. V, Digital vein ; A, digital artery ; N, digital nerve ; L, ligament. DIGITAL NEUROTOMY. 155 a short distance inferiorly it passes beneath it, while from the middle of the pastern downwards the nerve lies behind the ligament. The operation is practicable at any point over the line of the nerve from the top to the bottom of the shaved area in Plate X XV or from the superior end of the first phalanx down to a level with the superior border of the lateral carti- lage, but perhaps preferably at about the middle of the pastern. At the desired point and over the groove between the flexor pedis tendon and the phalanges shave and disin- fect an area 4 to 5 cm. square. In the center of this area at the anterior border of the flexor tendon, with the scalpel held perpendicular to the skin, make an incision from above downwards a distance of from 2 to 3 cm. cutting cleanly through the skin and subcutaneous fascia down upon the nerve. The incision is favored by tensing the skin between the thumb and index finger of the left hand, but care should be taken not to displace it backwards or forwards. Dilate the wound by pressure with the thumb and index finger or otherwise and carefully incise longitudinally the fibrous sheath enveloping the nerve and artery. Pass an aneurism needle beneath the nerve, and follow with a second one immediately beside the first. Draw the two apart, one toward the toe, the other toward the fetlock, and separate thereby the nerve from the surrounding tissues. Remove one aneurism needle, insert a probe pointed bistoury, or scis- sors beneath the nerve, and divide it at the upper angle of the wound and excise a section 3 cm. long. Disinfect and bandage with or without suturing the wounds. Leave the bandage in place 6 to 8 days. PLATE X2Vi5 PLANTAR NEUROTOMY. a, lateral digital artery ; v, lateral digital vein; m, common lateral digital nerve; d, anterior branch ; 0, posterior branch ; s, superficial flexor tendon; /, perforans tendon; 7, suspensory ligament of fetlock ; #, metacarpus.