82 



SUBCUTANEOUS CAUDAL MYOTOMY. 



most prominent part of curvation, the incision being parallel 

 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 of the 

 tenotome 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 skin over the muscular incision is avoided by 



FIG. 6. 



Transverse section of the tail, n, caudal vertebra ; c, sacro- 

 coccygeus lateralis muscle ; , sacro-coccygeus superior ; f, 

 depressor longus and brevis muscles (sacro-coccygeus infer- 

 ior) ; z, 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 ; h, skin. 



placing the thumb of the left hand over the line of incision 

 so the knife will be recognized as soon as the muscle and 

 caudal fascia are -cut through. Remove the knife in the same 

 manner as introduced. Release the horse and have him 

 trotted agai n . If the operation is sufficient the tail should curve 

 in about the same degree as before, but in the opposite direc- 



