INSTRUMENTS, APPARATUS, AND MEDICINE. 573 



Needles {^surgical). — For sewing up wounds, etc. They are of different 

 shapes as well as different sizes. (See seton needles.) 



Probang. — A straight, flexible rod, with a sponge on one end, for 

 pushing substances down the throat, in cases of strangulation. Two 

 kinds are shown in the cut on page 412. 



Probe. — For exploring wounds. They are made of silver wire with 

 one end slightly knobbed, and of different sizes. 



Scalpel. — A surgeon's knife, straight and keen edged. For veterinary 

 purposes, it should be broad and strong. 



Scissors (curved). — Indispensable for trimming the edges of wounds, 

 clipping off the hair, etc. 



Seton needles. — For drawing setons under the skin. Their blades are 

 broad and curved, with a round shaft eighteen inches long and one eye 

 at the blunt end. 



Shoeing-knife. — Sometimes called the frog-knife or drawing knife, 

 being the knife used hy blacksmiths for cutting into and paring the hoof, 

 in horseshoeing. It is a thin blade with a sharply curved end, fixed in a 

 handle, and will be found quite useful in the care of the horse's feet, in 

 health, as well as in treating the same when diseased. 



Syringe. — There are regular horse and cattle syringes now procurable. 

 For giving small doses of liquid medicines one that can be worked 

 with one hand is almost indispensable. The old-fashioned pail and india- 

 rubber pipe is a clumsy, yet in most cases, efficient substitute in giving 

 injections. A small syringe for injecting abscesses, cleaning wounds, 

 etc., will also be desirable. 



Trocar. — A sim})le surgical instrument, resembling a pointed awl. It 

 is now generally provided with a cannula, which is a hollow tube enclos- 

 ing it. (See cut on page 860.) Its uses in puncturing the abdomen, 

 chest, &c.,have been repeatedly given elsewhere, the cannula, as a rule, 

 being allowed to remain in the orifice, as a channel for the escape of the 

 water, serum, or gas, as the case may be. 



II. Surgical Apparatus and Appliances. 



In addition to the instruments described in the last section, there are 

 various apparatus and appliances which the stock owner should always 

 keep on hand, or at least have at ready command in case of need. The 

 following list will, we think, be found sufficiently complete for all prac- 

 tical purposes. 



Drenching bottle. — This is now generally used, instead of the old-time 

 drenching-horn. It should hold a quart at least, and have a long neck. 

 A champagne or ale bottle will be about the thing. 



