S Feb.. 1907.] Diseases of Farm Animals. 71 



may be left in for a few hours if the formation of gas is continuing. On 

 removat, a dab of tar over the wound is all the dressing, necessary. 



Gastrotomy (Artificial Disgorgement of the Stomach). 

 This operation involves the opening of the paunch and removal of por- 

 tion of its contents. It is performed for the relief of impaction of the 

 rumen, and the removal of rags, leather, nails, and other foreign bodies 

 that have been swallowed. 



The seat of the operation is the same as that for rumenotomy, but the 

 primary incision should be made in an oblique direction downwards and 

 forwards towards the border of the last rib. By cutting in this direction 

 the superficial abdominal muscles are severed transversely, and the deep 

 muscles longitudinally ; the operation wound, when left tO' heal, is thus 

 closed at the bottom, but gapes on the surface so allowing of the free 

 exit of discharges. The incision through the skin should be from 6 to 

 10 inches long, according to the size of animal. On cutting through the 

 muscles and wall of the rumen, it is advisable to stitch the edges 

 of the wound in the rumen tO' the edges of the muscular wound 

 by means of four or six stout sutures before proceeding further. 

 This precaution is taken to prevent the wound in the rumen being moved 

 ■out of position by the rolling of the rumen, and also to prevent any foreign 

 matter passing into the peritoneal cavity. As a further precaution against 

 the latter accident occurring while the removal of the contents is being 

 •effected, a small towel may be placed in position in the lower extremity 

 of the wound. The hand and arm are then inserted, and the required 

 amount of the contents of the rumen removed piece by piece. While this 

 is being done, the edges of the wound should be kept apart by blunt hooks 

 or the fingers of assistants. Medicaments may be i]itroduced if desired. 



The next step is the closure of the wounds. The temporary stitches 

 are first removed; then the lips of the wound in the rumen are sutured 

 with carbolized catgut, the edges being inverted, so that during healing 

 any discharges and scab may fall into the rnmen, and not into the peri- 

 toneal cavity. The wound in the deep abdominal muscles, which have 

 been cut lengthways of the fibres, is then sutured ; and, after dressing the 

 external wound with antiseptics, an iodoformed cotton-wool plug may be 

 inserted, and a stitch or two put in the external skin wonnd, leaving suffi- 

 cient opening at the lower extremity to allow of the exit of discharges and 

 the subsequent removal of the cotton-wool plug. Ordinary methods of 

 wound-dressing will comprise the after-treatment. 



Suturing Wounds. 



Sutures or stitches are employed to bring the edges of wounds together 

 and maintain them in position during the healing process. Silk thread, 

 catgut, twisted horsehair, kangaroo tendon, whipcord, and silver or pewter 

 wire are used for suturing wounds. Catgut and kangaroo tendon are to 

 be preferred as a rule, but metal wire sutures have the advantage that thev 

 may be tightened or loosened at will, and so be made to accommodate to 

 any swelling that may occur. Silk thread, horsehair, and twine are apt 

 to cut through the softened and inflamed tissues too readilv. The thick- 

 ness and strength of the material used should be judged according to the 

 strain the sutures will have to support. All suture material should be 

 soaked m antiseptic solution before use. 



What is called the interrupted suture is mostly advocated for u.se in 

 veterinary practice. Each stitch is tied bv itself, '.so that, in the case of 



