APPLICATION OF TAPE SETONS. 195 



making it too easily accessible to his teeth to be suffered to re- 

 main long in place without such a defence. 



(d) Setoii at the Ilijy-J'oint. — Lameness of this region is fre- 

 quently treated by the tape seton, the conditions of their applica- 

 tion being nearly identical with those reqviired when the shoulder 

 is the region involved. They are placed, whether single or dou- 

 ble, directly over the articulation, or crossing each other in the 

 X form, and also over the center of the joint ; and care must be 

 taken that they are not inserted so obliquely as to interfere with 

 the free flow of the pus. A needle similar to that used with the 

 shoulder will be found convenient, and for a similar reason, the 

 thickness of the skin, and the closeness of its connection with the 

 sub-tissues, will render necessary the preliminary incisions with 

 the bistoury to facihtate the entrance of the needle ; and the con- 

 trol of the animal, as he is to be treated on his feet, should be 

 secured by supplementing the restraint of the twitch with that of 

 the side lines, and raising one of the hind legs. 



(e) Setons at the Thigh. — These are prescribed in chronic 

 swelling of the hind legs. The region they should cover extends 

 from a level with a point a little below the inside of the ischial 

 tuberosity to the superior third of the shank, and they should be 

 placed in a slightly obUque direction from without inward. It is 

 necessary while operating here, as in the hip-joint, to have the 

 animal well secured, and not only the twitch and the side-lines, 

 but sometimes the raising of one of the fore foot will be required ; 

 as of all setons, this is probably the most painful to insert, in con- 

 sequence of the division of branches of the sciatic nerves, which 

 He in the course of the needle. The steps of the operation do 

 not in any way vary from those in other regions, and therefore do 

 not call for a redescription excepting perhaps to specify that in 

 placing the tape the convexity of the blade must be turned in- 

 wardly, and an assistant will be needed to hold the tail aside. The 

 tying of the tail to the surcingle on the opposite side of the body 

 will prevent its becoming soiled with the discharge of the seton, 

 and render the subsequent care of the patient easier. 



{f) Setons at the Stifle. — This seton is recommended by Peuch 

 and Toussaint in lameness of that region which has resisted vesi- 

 cating liniments and blistering applications. They recommend 

 the recumbent position for the safety of the operator. A convex 

 bistoury and the ordinary seton-needle are required. The animal 



