SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 



19 



CHAPTER V. 



Surgical Operations, 



(a) Blistering and Firing. 



Both these operations are used for the pur- 

 pose of creating counter irritation of the skin, 

 in order to relieve inflammation of internal 

 structures, and are specially used for diseases 

 of the bones and joints of the legs. The best 

 effects are produced only after ordinary reme- 

 dies have first been used to reduce as far as 

 possible local inflammation, and in no case 

 should either be used if any external heat of 

 skin exists. 



Blisters should never be repeated until the 

 scale of the old blister has come away, and 

 the new hair begun to appear. For twelve 

 hours after blistering, the horse should be 

 secured, so that it cannot bite or scratch the 

 affected part, and the skin, after blistering, 

 should be occasionally dressed with vaseline 

 or some other emollient dressing. Do not 

 blister a heated or inflamed skin. It is as well 

 to give a mild purgative two days before 

 using any blister, except when one is used for 

 an abscess, or to reduce inflammation of any 

 important internal organ, such as in laryn- 

 gitis or pneumonia. 



"Firing" is the act of burning the skin with 

 a heated iron, and special instruments are sold 

 for the purpose. The operation should never 

 be performed except by a veterinarian, 

 under chloroform, and with the greatest 

 care. No operation on the horse is more 

 liable to abuse than that of firing. However, 

 in strictly scientific hands, it is one of the 

 most beneficial for cases of refractory splints, 

 spavins, side-bones, sprained tendons, and 

 curbs. The operation should not be contem- 

 plated, unless the owner is prepared to give 

 at least two or three months' rest to the 

 animal, and at least three weeks' preparation 

 should first be given to the leg to be operated 

 upon. These precautions are absolutely 

 necessary to obtain good results. 



keeps open the artificial wound. It is done 

 to produce intense C(ninter-irritati<)n, when 

 blisters would be ineffectual and firing is im- 

 practicable, as in obstinate cases of hip-joint 

 disease. It should only be performed by a 

 veterinarian. 



(c) Suturing Wounds. 



Surgical needles and antiseptic silk and 

 catgut or silver wire are used for this purpose. 

 For ordinary purposes the "interrupted 

 suture" should be performed, that is to say, 

 each stitch should be tied separately. Before 

 suturing, the wound must be carefully 

 cleansed with antiseptic sjlution and dried, 

 and all destroyed tissue cut away. 

 Be careful to keep out of the wound any dirt, 

 or oil, or liniment of any description, and 

 see that the needle actually penetrates the 

 whole of the skin before drawing through the 

 thread. After the suturing is complete, dust 

 the surface with a mixture of dry boric acid 

 and aristol. Secure the animal until union 

 has taken place, so that there will be the least 

 possible stretching of the sutures. 



(d) Ttie Opening of Abscesses. 



Be careful to see that distinct fluctuation 

 proves the existence of pus before opening, 

 and when the operation is decided upon, open 

 freely so as to obtain a clear channel. Cut in 

 the general direction as from head to tail, 

 avoiding all transverse incisions. If the 

 abscess is in a dangerous locality, one un- 

 familiar with the anatomical position of large 

 arteries and veins should never operate. 

 After opening freely, irrigate once or twice a 

 day with a solution of Peroxide of Hydrogen, 

 or other antiseptic soltition. 



(b) Setoning. 



The operation of setoning is the passage of 

 a piece of tape, four to six inches long, under 

 the skin. It is allowed to remain there 

 for some days or weeks. Constant dressing 



(e) Extraction of Tumours. 



All tumours require thorough dissection 

 from out of the surrotmding structures, and, 

 if these are in a dangerous position, the 

 operation should only be performed by a 



