462 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



is secured the operator stands by the shoulder, holds the fleam in hi 

 left hand, the blade just short of touching the skin and parallel to 

 the direction of the vein, and the stick or mallet with which to strike 

 it in his right; one quick, sharp blow should be sufficient. If the 

 hair is long, it is a wise precaution to moisten and smooth it down. 



When sufficient blood has been withdrawn the rope is removed 

 and the orifice closed by means of a pin inserted through the lips of 

 the incision in the skin only, and a piece of fine string or tow wound 

 either over or under it in the shape of a figure 8, or in a circle be- 

 tween the skin and the pin, the point of which should be clipped off. 

 To prevent the animal from rubbing the part and tearing or dislodg- 

 ing the pin, it is advisable to tie the head up for a couple of days, pro- 

 viding the animal's health will admit of it, after which the pin may 

 be removed and the wound left to heal in the usual manner. 



Before leaving the subject it may be well to add that as the good 

 effects derived from bleeding depend more on the quickness with 

 which the blood is drawn than on the quantity extracted, it is of 

 importance that a liberal opening should be made into the blood ves- 

 sel and the blood allowed to flow until a perceptible impression has 

 been made on the pulse. 



SETONIXG. 



Setons are used in cattle for various purposes, of which perhaps 

 the most common is as a preventive in anthrax or blackleg, when a 

 seton is usually inserted in the dewlap. This is not done to afford 

 exit to any poisonous discharge from the system, as is generally sup- 

 posed, but to cause a sufficient amount of inflammation to increase 

 the coagulating properties of the blood, which in these diseases be- 

 comes altered (as described elsewhere), notably losing its viscidity 

 and in consequence oozing through the walls of the blood vessels. 

 For this purpose the seton should be deeply inserted and should be 

 dressed daily with turpentine or common blister. 



The ordinary use of a seton is for a different object, as, for in- 

 stance, to keep up constant drainage from a cavity containing mat- 

 ter, or to act as a stimulant or counterirritant. To insert a seton, 

 the place of entrance and exit having been decided on, with the fin- 

 ger and thumb make a small fold of the skin transverse to the direc- 

 tion the seton is to be inserted, and cut it through, either with a sharp 

 knife or a pair of scissors (this should be done at both the entrance 

 and exit) ; then with a steady pressure and slight lateral movement 

 insert the seton by means of a seton needle. The seton should con- 

 sist of a piece of strong tape, varying in breadth according to cir- 

 cumstances, and should be kept in place either by a knot on each 

 end or by tying the ends together. 



Setons should be gently moved once a day after suppuration is 

 set up, and they should not be allowed to remain in over three weeks, 

 or a month at the outside. 



TRACHEOTOMY. 



This operation consists of making an opening in the trachea, 

 or windpipe. It is indicated whenever there is an obstruction from 



