SECURING SMALL ANLMALS. 43 



For castration and other operations on the cat, the skin at the 

 back of the neck is grasped with one hand, that over the lumbar region 

 with the other, and the subject firmly pressed down on a table. 

 Another method is for the assistant to grasp the hind limbs on either 

 side between the second and third fingers, the fore-limbs between the 

 index and second fingers, and the skin on either side of the head with 

 the index finger and thumb. Thus held the animal is quite powerless. 

 Troublesome patients may be wrapped in a thick cloth to prevent 

 scratching and biting. It is sometimes recommended to thrust the 

 animal into a narrow sack or into a boot. These methods, of course, 

 are primitive and onl}- suitable for trifling operations. For more com- 

 plicated operations one or other of the above-mentioned tables ma}' be 

 used. 



Complications. — Application of the above-described methods of 

 restraint are not infrequently followed by injuries or complications. The 

 animal begins to resist immediately the hobbles are applied. A horse 

 often struggles, kicks, or moves away on finding the free use of its limbs 

 checked, and may fall awkwardly, breaking the jaw, neck, shoulder, 

 or a limb bone, according to the incidence of the shock. Fracture of 

 the pelvis or of ribs is not infrequent when horses are cast suddenly and 

 violently. Even when secured, the muscular efforts consequent on 

 struggling may cause fractures of vertebra;, of the pelvis, of the cannon 

 bone, OS calcis, etc., rupture of abdominal viscera, of large vessels, 

 important muscles, or of tendons, not to mention the skin wounds and 

 contusions which almost always occur. Pressure on nerves such as 

 the facial or radial, due to lying long in one position, may be 

 followed by cramp or paralysis. 



