PREPARATIONS FOR OPERATING. 



89 



vagina when the mucous membrane is the seat of polypi, ulcerating 

 tumours, or when it has been infected during removal of a putrid 

 foetus. 



The uterus is disinfected in the same way as the vagina, a long 

 india-rubber tube being employed. 



Beyond passing the catheter few operations are performed on the 

 bladder. In this case preventive treatment is of the greatest import- 

 ance. Until now the dangers of catheterisation, as 

 usuall)^ practised, have not received sufficient atten- 

 tion. Acute cystitis and its various complications 

 may follow the introduction of soiled catheters, which 

 are cleansed with difficult}' and are more or less 

 septic. 



Catheters should be disinfected by prolonged 

 immersion in strong antiseptic solutions, and after- 

 wards be kept in a special case. 



In operations on the foot, local antisepsis is 

 ensured b}- the following method : — The shoe is 

 removed, the plantar surface of the hoof thmned, the 

 hair clipped away from the whole limb up to the 

 knee, the hoof thoroughh brushed with hot water 

 and soap, freely washed with an antiseptic solution, 

 in which it should be immersed for a quarter of an 

 hour to twenty minutes, then enveloped in com- 

 presses saturated with an antiseptic, and fixed in 

 position b}' mtans of tarlatan bandages. Linseed 

 poultices prepared with a strong disinfectant solution 

 certainl}' soften the horn, and ma\ be useful, but 

 from the point of view of antisepsis the superiorit\' ot 

 compresses cannot be gainsaid. 



Before commencing operation, the ligatures, 

 suture and dressing materials should be placed in a 

 sterilised dish. Two other dishes or plates contain- Fig. 90.— irrigator for 

 ing an antiseptic solution are provided for the instru- JanSg on wall ^°^ 

 ments and cotton wool tampons used for absorbing 

 blood. ImmediateU the skin is incised blood Hows, becoming more 

 abundant as the mcision extends, and concealing the point of operation. 

 This haemorrhage is from small vessels, and can be checked by con- 

 stantly mopping the parts with tampons of cotton wool taken from 

 the antiseptic solution. Carbolic solution checks bleeding, causing 

 the tissues to contract and bleeding vessels to close, but it has the 



