518 OPERATIONS ON THE CIRCULATOKY SYSTEM. 



the punctures, tlie scarifications, the veiitouses, or cupping, and 

 the leeching, of regular current practice. 



(a) Punctures and Scarifications. — These are methods of 

 producing small suj)erficial wovmds through the skin and the sub- 

 cutaneous cellular tissue, to obtain the effect of a local bleeding, 

 or the escape of any other fluid contained in the subcutaneous 

 substance. They are indicated against local swellings and serious 

 effusions, or oedema of the cellular tissue. They can be apphed 

 ujDon any part of the body, and though they take effect in the 

 escaj)e of but small quantities of fluid, their action may be stimu- 

 lated by additional local appHcations, such as warm poultices, 

 warm water fomentations, or diy, stimulating frictions. 



Punctiu'es, however, are principally effective when employed 

 to overcome cedematous sweUings of the extremities, and of the 

 genital organs, while scarifications are prescribed with better ad- 

 vantage to obtain the resolution of cold or chi'onic swellings, or 

 to control the Inflammatory process in cases in which the tissues 

 are largely swollen and threatened with gangrene. 



Both the bistoury and the lancet, and, in rare instances, the 

 fleam, are used in fulfilling these indications. 



In making punctm-es the skin and cellular tissue are pricked 

 or pierced to the depth required, with the bistomy or lancet, by 

 rapid thrusts distributed over the entu'e sui'face of the swelling, 

 and when the fleam is used it is manipulated precisely as when 

 used in bleeding, though, of course, with qmck repetitions. 



(5) Scarifications may be defined as rather small incisions, made 

 with a convex bistoury, with which the skin is cut from without 

 inward, in parallel series, but which, in some instances, when an 

 increased effect is desired, are doubled by a second series crossing 

 the first at an angle. 



(c) Cupping. — This mode of obtaining capillary bleeding is 

 very seldom employed in veterinary practice. The cups are, how- 

 ever, indicated in subcutaneous inflammations, accompanied w^ith 

 sweUings, and resulting from blows, contusions, kicks, and other 

 and similar traumatic causes, and are often preferable to blisters. 

 They are recommended in arthritis, ostitis, and even in internal 

 phlegmasia. They render valuable aid in emptying some forms 

 of abscesses, and are credited with the possession of power. to 

 arrest or prevent the absorjition of virus introduced into wounds 

 or deposited on then- surface. 



