i6o THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



the tenaculum, the finger should be inserted in the wound to feel for the 

 pulsating vessel. 



The subsequent treatment of the wound is as follows : The incision 

 in the deep fascia should be carefully closed by the insertion of a number 

 of closely-set interrupted sutures. This part of the treatment is very 

 frequently neglected, and in such cases the opening in the fascia does 

 not close, and remains as an indication that the operation has been per- 

 formed, for it may be easily felt with the finger by applying a little 

 pressure. The cutaneous wound should now be closed, and the patient 

 allowed to rise. Cold water irrigation to keep the area clean, occa- 

 sional applications of dry dressing, and frequent exercise to prevent filling 

 of the limb are all that are now necessary. 



A common complication which arises during the operation is venous 

 haemorrhage through injury to the accompanying vein. This for the 

 time being may be neglected, and the operator should complete the 

 surgical treatment of the nerve before directing his attention to the vein. 

 Having done that, it may be necessary to insert a small suture in the vein ; 

 but if the animal is allowed to rise venous haemorrhage will very fre- 

 quently cease without surgical treatment, owing to the pressure on the 

 vein by the deep fascia, which now becomes much more tense. 



THE PLANTAR NERVE 



The internal plantar nerve, it will be remembered, is one of the 

 terminal branches of the median nerve, the point of division of the 

 latter being variable in the forearm. Soon after the median nerve 

 divides the internal plantar nerve places itself in front of the posterior 

 radial artery, and subsequently behind its main continuation, the large 

 metacarpal artery, in company with which the nerve passes through the 

 carpal arch. Whilst in the arch the nerve crosses the vessel and runs 

 down the limb behind it, both being placed on the edge of the tendon 



