8 Jan., 1907.] Diseases of Farm Animals. 61 



artery, it is surprising how quickly it will close if the animal is kept still. 

 Much apprehension need not be felt unless the blood is spurting in jets. 

 The bleeding from an operation wound is usually much more serious than 

 that from an accidental wound, because in the latter case the vessel is 

 usually torn asunder, while in the former the cut is usually a clean one, 

 and there is no tendency for the vessel to become plugged by the tiny 

 shreds of torn tissue round which clotting occurs so quickly. 



In the case of a large vessel being cut during an operation, the safest 

 plan is to secure the bleeding end with a pair of forceps, and either apply 

 a silk ligature, or twist the vessel until the end is almost torn off. Failing 

 this, the wound ishould be sluiced with a solution of perchloride of iron, 

 plugged with cotton wool or antiseptic tow, and stitched up. The object 

 of this procedure is to get a quick clotting of the blood, by which the 

 cut vessel ultimately becomes plugged. The application of cold water 

 or ice to the part, bv producing contraction of the blood vessels supplying 

 it, is also' helpful. Cold water continuously played on the loins is par- 

 ticularly useful in bleeding from the cord after castration, or from the 

 womb after calving or foaling. In the latter cases, the flooding of the 

 womb with cold water, or e^'en the insertion of a chunk of ice, mav have to 

 be resorted to. 



When the bleeding is from one of the large vessels of the limbs, the 

 application of pressure abo\'e the seat of bleeding by means of a tourniquet 

 or tight Bandage is very effective. If pressure is applied directly to the 

 main vessel of supply, bv means of a cork, plug of grass, or some such 

 substance, held in position with the bandage, the bleeding will cease 

 almost directly ; but an exact knowledge of the vascular anatomv of the 

 part is necessarv' to effectively accomplish this. 



To avoid excessive bleeding while operating on the limbs, it i'S always 

 advisable tO' apply a bandage or tourniquet to the limb above the seat of 

 operation. For operations in other parts, the prior injection of adrenalin 

 has recently been practised extensively to produce a transient bloodless- 

 ness, but its use in those cases which have come under the author's observa- 

 tion has not been so completely succes.sful as was expected. 



Amputation of the Penis. 

 For this operation the animal will usually need to be cast, especially 

 if a bull is the subject of operation. A catheter is passed intO' the urethral 

 tube and retained in position by a tight ligature round the penis behind 

 the seat of the proposed amputation. A circular incision is then made, 

 cutting down on to the catheter. The ligature and catheter are allowed to 

 remain in position for at least twenty-four hours — the former to prevent 

 excessive bleeding, and the latter so that the discharging, urine may not 

 be interfered with. It is not necessary to stitch the edges of the wound. 

 Ordinary wound treatment will suffice to complete the healing. 



Blood-Letting. 



Bleeding" or the extraction of blood, which was commonly practised 

 for a number of diseases in days gone by, is now only advised in cases 

 of passive congestion of the lungs and some few other conditions. It is 

 most easily done by opening the jugular vein at the upper third of the 

 neck. A cord or strap (a stirrup leather does very well) is first applied 

 tightly round the neck about midwav between the head and chest, so that 



