10 INTEODUCTION. 



pathological character of the lesion, with the necessary details of 

 the work before him, not forgetting to anticipate possible acci- 

 dents and coni]DHcations ; and being assured that his arsenal of 

 instruments, dressings, etc., is ample and in good and available 

 order, with a liberal provision of sponges, antiseptics, etc., and 

 duplicates of such of the instruments as are liable to be broken 

 or otherwise disabled, the condition of the patient should then be 

 ascertained. It will, of course, have been thoroughly understood 

 by the surgeon previously, but it is always among possibilities 

 that even at the appointed moment for operating, some changes 

 may be discovered or some new circumstances developed which 

 may modify or contraindicate the entire proceeding. 



Some final preparation of the patient is always necessary. One 

 item of this consists in clipping the hair from the skin over the 

 seat of the operation, and thoroughly cleansing the part. In 

 some cases it is necessary to soften the tissues by means of poul- 

 tices, baths or wet bandages. There is also a constitutional and 

 general preparation which must not be neglected, with a \T.ew to 

 so modify the organism as to improve the ability of the animal to 

 withstand the shock of the operation. If weak and debilitated, 

 his strength and condition must be improved; if of an irritable 

 and nervous disposition, precautions must be taken to control it. 

 A comparatively low diet is almost always a salutary measiu*e, 

 and sometimes even complete diet an essential preliminary to an 

 operation, and the surgeon must assure himself that they have 

 been properly taken into consideration. 



In many cases the surgeon needs the co-operation of assistants, 

 either professional men or laymen. The aid rendered by a profes- 

 sional brother or by a student of mediciue will of course be such 

 as will be assigned to him by the responsible surgeon, and cannot 

 be specified here — it wiU vary with every case. The facility and 

 success of an operation wiU be greatly promoted by their intelli- 

 gent and sympathetic aid, which will be quite of an indispensable 

 character. In enlisting laymen as assistants, it will of coiu'se 

 devolve on the surgeon to instruct them as fully as jDOSsible in 

 the nature of the services expected from them ; and in making his 

 selection of indi^dduals it will be an important point gained if he 

 can obtain those who are accustomed to the management of ani- 

 mals, and who are expert in handling and successful in controlling 

 them. 



