SCARIFICATION AND TRANSFUSION. 



151 



veterinary surgery. Scarification consists in making a number of 

 comparatively shallow cuts in the tissue. It is seldom employed 

 on account of suppuration and destruction of tissue frequently 

 resulting. For cupping, which is also rarely resorted to, a scarifier 

 or lancet and a cupping-glass are necessary. The scarificator 

 (Fig. 209) consists of a metal box containing many small fleams and 

 the mechanism for operating them. The blades can be raised or 

 lowered by a screw, and the depth of incision regulated. The fleams, 

 twelve to sixteen in number, are set and released in a precisely 

 similar manner to the blades of the spring fleam previously described. 

 The scarificator is applied to the shaven and disinfected skin, released, 

 and applied a second time at right angles to its previous position 

 so as to produce cross cuts. Cupping-glasses are hemispherical in 

 shape, with edges ground to a true surface. The centre is pierced 

 by a small hole, and carries a short 

 hollow stem to which a strong rubber ball 

 is fixed. The rubber ball on top of 

 the cupping-glass is then compressed, the 

 glass applied to the scarified area, and 

 the ball released, causing a partial 

 vacuum. When partially filled with 

 blood, the glass is removed, emptied, 

 and again applied until the necessary 

 quantity of blood has been taken. A 

 dressing is afterwards applied over the 

 seat of operation. 



In removing blood for the preparation of protective serum ordinary 

 methods are unsuitable, because organisms may obtain entrance 

 to the stream of blood and the receiving vessel. The vein is therefore 

 exposed, and a trocar provided with a rubber tube connection is 

 inserted in it. The glass cylinder to receive the blood is closed with 

 parchment, and covered with a movable metal cap provided with 

 an opening. All the instruments and apparatus are, of course, most 

 carefully sterilised. 



In use the parchment is pierced through the opening in the metal 

 cap, and the rubber tube lowered into the cylinder so that the stream 

 of blood comes as little as possible in contact with the air and forms 

 no foam. Immediately the vessel is filled the tube is withdrawn, 

 the cap turned round, and the opening in the paper thus covered. 



Transfusion. By transfusion is meant the conveyance of blood 

 from one individual into the vessels of another. It is only employed 

 where fatal exhaustion threatens in consequence of severe loss of 



Fig. 209.— Sacrificator. 



