PROLAPSUS OF THE RECTUM 



and brought up to the surface. This is facilitated by inserting an ordi- 

 nary thermometer into the lumen of the intestine (Hobday) or, better still, 

 a cylinder of carrot (^"iborg). Tie this stitch and put another stitch be- 

 side this, and continue around the intestine until 

 it is stitched up. Cut off the portion posterior to 

 the stitches, remove portion of carrot and push the 

 stump back through the anus. 



Amputation by Means of a Cross Suture. — • 

 The method advocated by Miller is performed in 

 the following manner: the animal is etherized and 

 the hair removed, the skin cleaned and two needles 

 with linen or silk suture put crosswise, as in Fig. 

 37, through the prolapsed portion, the portion pos- 

 terior to the stitch, is cut off; the stitches are then 

 pulled out from the lumen of the intestine and cut in 

 the centre, thus making two threads. These should 

 be tied, as in the second figure of the cut. 



Another method is to place the animal under 

 ether, and having laid it on a table with the poste- 

 rior extremities elevated, the prolapsed portion is 

 pulled as far as possible out of the rectum. It 

 must then be rubbed in the hands, to remove as 



much blood from it as possible, or a rubber band wound around it, from 

 its extremity to its base, and finally ligated at its base, and then, by 

 means of a bistoury, the protrusion is cut off about one-half of an inch 

 from the ligation. 



Fig. 36. — Stitching rec- 

 tum (tobacco-bag stitch); 

 o, method of stitching; b, 

 stitch tied. 



Fig. 37. — Method of suturing in amputation of the lower bowel. 



After the blood vessels have been taken up by means of an in- 

 terrupted stitch (the interrupted stitch is much better, as it makes the 

 union of the lips of the wound much closer), sew up the serous mem- 

 brane, and afterward sew the muscular and mucous membranes; the 

 rubber band is removed, and the stump is pushed back into the opening. 



