56 Journal of Agriculture. [^ Jan., 1907. 



(c) The sterilization of the hands of the operator. — Thorough washing 

 with soap and water is necessary, especial attention being paid to the 

 nails ; after which the hands should be sponged with alcohol or smeared 

 with carbolized oil, according to the requirement of the operation. If 

 possible, the operator should not himself assist in the throwing or securing 

 of the patient, or in any work likely to contaminate hiis hands. 



{d) Avoidance of contamination of operation wounds. — Clean straw- 

 makes the most suitable bed for operating on. It is almost impossible to 

 carry out strictly antiseptic surgery if beds of dusty tan or sand, or manure 

 are used. The particular part to be operated on may be protected by 

 having towelling or sheeting placed under it, particularly in chloroform 

 operations. 



{e) Tlie antiseptic dressing of operation wounds. — Methods Nvill be 

 described later on, when the treatment of wounds is being dealt with. 



The Control of Animals During Operations. 



Various devices have to be used to control animals during the per- 

 formance of operations, not only for the avoidance of risk to the operator, 

 but also that the part to be operated upon may be fixed or exposed in 

 proper position. The most essential requirement in this regard is perhaps 

 that the man in charge of the horse's head should be a knowledgeable 

 horseman, strong, active, alert, handv, and, above all, game and fearless, 

 for on him will it often depend to give warning, and, by hits handling of 

 his charge, to prevent danger to both the operator and the animal. 



The Twitch is a common means of controlling horses or attracting 

 their attention during the performance of minor operations. It consists 

 of a stout stick ha\-ing a loop of cord at the end which is twisted round 

 the part to which it is applied so causing compression and certain amount 

 of pain. The twitch is usually applied to the upper lip or muzzle, a part 

 extremely well supplied with sensory nerve filaments, which are apparently 

 iDenumbed bv the operation. It is sometimes also applied to the ears and 

 to the lower jaw behind the incisor teeth. 



The Side Line is a loop of rope passed round the neck in front of 

 the shoulders, and having a free end, which is passed round the hind 

 pastern and back to the neck loop. When adjusted and drawn up fairly 

 tight, it pre\ents the free use of the leg round which it is passed, and 

 so allows of some operations being performed without risk of kicking. 

 If it is required to control both hind limbs, double side lines are used. 

 (See Fig. i.) 



Strapping the limbs in various positions is often adopted, a stirrup 

 leather being a most useful instrument in this connexion. A horse cannot 

 well kick if made to stand on three legs. This may be done by bending 

 one fore leg, up and strapping it by means of a stirrup leather round the 

 pastern and upper part of the arm. The hind limbs may be hobbled 

 together by applying the stirrup leather round both, either above or below 

 the hocks. Punching may be prevented bv hobbling the fore limbs in 

 like manner. 



The Trievis or Crush. — A favorite method of securing horses and 

 cattle for operations in Australia is the fixing of them in a crush, the 

 construction and uses of which are familiar to most stockmen, seeing that 

 such a structure is to be found erected in almost every stockyard throughout 

 the land. Many of them are very ingeniously designed, so that they may 



