62 CLINICAL VETERINARY INIEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



incisions is united by a transverse incision, and the triangle of skin 

 thus dehmited is removed. I then excise the subjacent tissues, layer 

 by layer, over the space covered by this wound until the urethra is 

 exposed. This is opened at the lower margin of the wound by a 

 transverse section. I then remove the catheter, and pass a grooved 

 director into the exposed end of the divided urethra, the groove being 

 directed towards the lower surface of the tube, and with the bistoury 

 I divide the urethra along its middle line throughout the entire length 

 of the part exposed. I then divide it transversely, and afterwards 

 unite each flap of the mucous membrane of the urethra to the corre- 

 sponding flap of the skin of the penis by silk sutures I complete the 

 operation by applying, just at the base of the wound, four or five turns 

 of a tightly stretched rubber cord. The ends of the cord are fastened 

 together, and the penis divided an inch or so below with a single cut. 



For several years before adopting the above method of preparing 

 the urethral orifice I was in the habit of dividing the penis with a 

 bistoury, and closing the principal arteries by ligatures, or by applying 

 forceps. Abundant attacks of haemorrhage used then to occur during 

 several days, under the influence of the semi-erections which marked 

 the moment of staling. 



With the method referred to a mass of dead tissue remains for 

 several days adherent to the end of the penis. Any risk of infection is 

 prevented by antiseptic irrigations. The dead mass and ligature fall 

 away between the sixth and tenth days. The stump is then usually 

 much tumefied, but the swelling and oedema rapidly diminish. The 

 wound suppurates little. A layer of granulations soon covers it, becomes 

 hard, and contracts, gradually drawing the skin over the stump until 

 towards the end of the third month ; the cicatrix is comparatively 

 small. As for the muco-cutaneous wound, when the sutures hold, and 

 the mucous membrane does not cut through, the apposed lips rapidly 

 unite. Most frequently, however, the mucous membrane cuts through 

 at one or more points and becomes separated from the skin ; vegetations 

 occur on the exposed tissues, often becoming so abundant as partially 

 to obstruct the meatus. There is, however, no cause for alarm. Ex- 

 cessive granulation soon ceases, the parts heal ; like the wound on 

 the extremity of the penis, cicatricial contraction results in drawing 

 the mucous membrane towards the skin, and the urethral opening 

 resumes and permanently preserves the shape given to it by the 

 operator. In both cases the final result is the same; when the surgeon 

 has done his part well, patency of the urethral opening is ensured. 

 As soon as inflammatory symptoms disappear, the animal stales with 

 the same ease as any other horse. 



