PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT. 3 



simplest operation, but only when rare and difficult operations are 

 projected does its necessity force itself on our recognition. In very 

 difficult cases operation may previously be performed on the dead 

 body and the anatomical relations noted. 



During the process one also determines the method of operation, 

 for one method does not suit every case and it must be left to the 

 ability of the operator to select the method he regards as being the 

 best suited to the case in hand, the simplest to practise and as 

 promising the desired result in the shortest time. Circumstances 

 arising during the operation itself often necessitate unforeseen modi- 

 fications, and test to the utmost the operator's resource and ingenuity. 



The instruments selected must include not only those required 

 for the operation itself, but for all complications which may possibly 

 arise. At the same time the simpler they are, cceteris paribus, the 

 better. 



Preparation of the Animal. Great importance used formerly to 

 be attached to the preparation of the animal, which was bled, and 

 purged secundum artem. Such methods are now nearly obsolete, 

 and the chief precaution required is to avoid casting an animal with 

 a full stomach, overloaded bowel, or distended bladder, although 

 the fear of rupturing the stomach, bowel, or bladder has been greatly 

 exaggerated, as is proved by the small mortality in animals cast for 

 urgent operations without reference to the state of the bowels, etc. 

 It is, however, certainly advantageous to restrict the patient's diet 

 before practising reduction of hernia, cryptorchid castration, spaying, 

 and operations on the womb. 



The seat of operation should be thoroughly cleansed, the hair 

 shaved off, and in the case of operations on the foot a local anti- 

 septic bath should be given. 



Operations become necessary at all times of the day, but when 

 a choice is available the best time is probably the morning, as any 

 unfavourable sequelae, like secondary bleeding, are more easily 

 discovered and dealt with then than in the late afternoon or evening. 



Recovery is often favoured by turning the animal to grass, for 

 which reason spring is a very good time to choose when an option 

 exists. The extremes of temperature occurring in winter and 

 summer are disadvantageous. Great heat favours putrefactive 

 processes in wounds, and flies, besides irritating the animals, often 

 infect the parts. 



Place of Operation. When no special operating room is available, 

 some open well-lighted spot, sheltered from wind and dust, should 

 be chosen. The ground should be covered with clean straw to the 



