58 WOUND TREATMENT 



(enlarging the wound if necessary), and, having secured 

 it with an artery forceps, apply a ligature. In some 

 instances it may not be necessary to cast the horse, as in 

 consequence of the loss of blood he does not resist the 

 necessary manipulation, but the procedure is far more 

 easily and satisfactorily carried out when the animal is in 

 the recumbent position. 



As already remarked, all our efforts may fail in cases 

 where the vessel is out of reach. Plugging with tow may 

 succeed when the wounded vessel is not of large size, 

 but even in this case it is not to be advised. Although 

 such plugging may temporarily arrest the hemorrhage, 

 there is always the risk that secondary bleeding will 

 occur and prove fatal in the absence of the attendant. 

 It may be laid down as a rule that ligature is the only 

 safe method to adopt in the suppression of hemorrhage. 

 Only when the vessel cannot be secured should resort be 

 had to plugging the wound. 



It sometimes happens that although a vessel may be 

 secured by the artery forceps, in consequence of its depth 

 a ligature cannot be applied. In many instances, by 

 the employment of Schoemaker's pattern of forceps, in 

 which by means of a groove at the point of one of the 

 blades a ligature is held in position, a deep-seated vessel 

 may be ligated. This is a most useful instrument and 

 should be in the possession of every practitioner. 



I have frequently left an artery forceps m situ for 

 twenty-four hours in cases where a ligature could not 

 be applied. Care should be taken to tie up the animal 

 during the interval so that he may not lie down and so 

 cause the instrument to become detached, or to be driven 

 inward by pressure. 



In preparing for major operations, a plentiful supply 

 of artery forceps of large and small sizes should be 

 provided, as one never knows when a large vessel may 



