OPERATING TABLES. 19 



veterinary hospitals now contain some form of table for controlling 

 horses during operation. 



The first apparatus of this kind of any practical value was 

 Daviau's. It consisted of a large oak table about 8x6 feet, the 

 upper part of the front padded with horse-hair and covered with 



Fig. 37. — Daviau's operating table. Horse secured. 



stout leather, the lower portion and the ends perforated with holes 

 for the passage of ropes, the whole pivoted on a horizontal axis, to 

 which was attached a rackwork quadrant. At the back was a stout 

 framework about 2 feet 6 inches in height, with four legs so arranged 

 that the upright table could fold back upon it, when the whole had 



Fig. 38. — Daviau's table. Horse in position for operation. 



somewhat the appearance of an extremely massive and rather low 

 kitchen table. In practice the horse, already provided with a 

 powerful head-collar, was led up to the apparatus, and strong ropes 

 attached to the head-collar were passed through holes in the table 

 and secured at the back to belaying-pins. At the same time the 



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