72 FISTULA AND POLL-EVIL 



gers of major operations, it is essential to in- 

 vestigate carefully into the patient's physical 

 condition. Weak, emaciated, enfeebled sub- 

 jects should be given a preparatory treatment 

 that will tend to build them up in strength and 

 vigor. This may consist in evacuating and 

 irrigating large abscesses, cleaning them up 

 over the soiled shoulders, grooming the body, 

 good feeding and any general good care that 

 will improve the health» The week or two re- 

 quired for such preparatory treatment is not 

 lost, since the improved health before the op- 

 eration will shorten the duration of the period 

 of post-operative convalescence, and will re- 

 duce the rate of mortality which in enfeebled 

 subjects is bound to be high on account of 

 shock and the magnitude of the invading 

 wound. Large wounds cannot be made in the 

 bodies of an animal with impunity; in en- 

 feebled subjects they are positively disastrous. 

 Infections run riot in them and without ef- 

 fectual resistance toxemias are fatal. We, 

 therefore, advise against the operation in sub- 

 jects not physically fit to stand the ordeal. 



Dieting is also essential as a preparatory 

 step, as no animal may be safely cast and sub- 

 mitted to a severe surgical operation with its 

 alimentary canal filled with ingesta. This is 

 especially the case with subjects to be anesthe- 



