306 



OPEKATIOXS ON MUSCLES AND THEIR ANNEXES. 



Fig. 324.— Bartlet's Apparatus, Separate and in Position. 



1st. Hemorrhage^ which is not generally serious, taking j^lace 

 mostly when the tail is loosened and allowed to hang down, and 

 ceasing as soon as it is again placed in an elevated position. It 

 is but seldom that it becomes necessary to interfere for the jDur- 

 pose of arresting it, which is easily effected by the ordinary 

 means, as pressure or the ajDplication of hemostatics. 



2d. Gangrene is one of the most dangerous sequelae of the 

 operation, whether resulting from excessive traction on the tail 

 by the heavy weights, a di-essing too tightly applied, or excessive 

 inflammation, or, according to Hering, to the completed section 

 of all the arteries supplying the tail "When becoming gangren- 

 ous, the wounds assume a brown or blackish appearance, the sup- 

 puration becomes sanious, with a rejoulsive, sui generis odor, the 

 tail is swollen and flabby, and the oedema surrounding is cold and 

 puffy. The gangrenous process generally begins toward the end of 

 the tail and progresses raj)idly, endangei'ing in time the life of 

 the patient. It is often only by the most energetic measures that 

 it can be controlled, such as the free use of antiseptics, scarifica- 

 tion, cauterization, or even amputation. 



3d. 'Wounds of the Vertehrm and of their lAgaynents. — These 

 injuries, not so serious in their character, are usually produced 

 by the contact of the knife during the operation, causing a 

 scraping of the bone and wounding of the periosteum or the 

 ligaments which unite the vertebrse. Another injury is a re- 

 sulting necrosis caused by the formation of a fistula, from which 

 a thin sanious pus is discharged, and which forms a wound which 

 refuses to cicatrize. Though Zundel affirms that this compHca- 

 tion is most common after the subcutaneous operation, long 

 experience with this process fails to justify our agreement with 



