454 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



injured member will be of service until the fever and swelling dis- 

 appear. Afterwards allow the animal rest until the usefulness of 

 the foot is restored. Sometimes such an accident, causing fracture, 

 renders necessary plaster bandages or amputation. 



WOUNDS, INJURIES AND SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 



Surgery is both a science and an art. The success of surgical 

 operations depends upon the judgment, skill, and dexterity, as well 

 as upon the knowledge, of the operator. The same fundamental 

 principles underlie and govern animal and human surgery, although 

 their applications have a wide range and are very different in many 

 essential particulars. We must not lose sight of the fact that hy- 

 giene and sanitation are essential to the best results in veterinary 

 as well as in human surgery. 



Asepsis is an ideal condition which, although not always pos- 

 sible in animal surgery, is highly important in connection with the 

 mechanical details of all surgical operations in proportion to the 

 nature and seriousness of the same. Aseptic surgery may be said to 

 be such as is preserved from contamination by poisonous materials, 

 whether such poisons be applied directly to it or be generated in it 

 by the actions of germs that gain access to it and find within it the 

 conditions favorable to their growth. It should be borne in mind 

 that there are three ways that a wound may be kept aseptic ; by the 

 protection it receives from the first, at the hands of the surgeon, 

 from the access of septic agents ; by the power of living tissue to re- 

 sist and destroy septic agents, and by application to the wound of 

 substances which destroy them. 



Local and general anesthesia should be resorted to in painful 

 and serious surgical operations, as operations upon all living crea- 

 tures should be humanely performed and all unnecessary pain and 

 suffering avoided. Anesthesia is necessary where absolute immo- 

 bility of the patient is essential, and where entire muscular relaxa- 

 tion is indispensable. The anesthetic condition is also favorable for 

 the reduction of displaced organs. 



Large animals have to be cast and secured before an anesthetic 

 is administered. For complete anesthesia chloroform is generally 

 employed; and sometimes ether and chloroform. A sponge is wet 

 with the anesthetic and placed in a nosebag and the animal allowed 

 to inhale the fumes. The amount of chloroform required to pro- 

 duce insensibility to external impressions varies much in different 

 cases and must be regulated, as well as the admixture of air by a 

 competent assistant. 



If the probability of the success of an operation is remote and 

 the animal is in a healthy physical condition, so that its flesh is 

 good for human food, it is more advisable to let the butcher have 

 the animal than to attempt a surgical operation that offers little en- 

 couragement to the owner. The best judgment has to be exercised 

 in determining a matter of this kind, for no animal suffering from 

 inflammation or that is in a feverish condition is fit for human food. 



