AMPUTATION OF THE TAIL. 



113 



Technic. The animal may generally be operated upon 

 in a standing position secured in the stocks or with the aid 

 of the side line. lyocal anaesthesia may be applied by in- 

 jecting cocaine or other drug deeply upon the nerve trunks 

 as well as just beneath the skin. The animals' attention 

 may be attracted by means of the twitch if found necessary. 

 The point of amputation is determined by the location of 

 the disease. Over the area of operation clip the hair, shave 

 and thoroughly disinfect. Apply the tourniquet or elastic 

 bandage at the base of the tail so as to render the operation 

 bloodless. 



Above the seat of operation turn the hair upward toward 

 the root of the tail and secure it there by means of the 

 bandage, B, Fig. i, Plate XVIII. Locate as accurately as 

 possible the position of a joint at the point where it is desired 

 to operate and with the scalpel begin an incision on the 

 median line on the upper side of the organ about i cm. 

 above the articulation and carry this obliquely outward for 

 a distance of 4 to 6 cm. according to the size of the tail and 

 then continue it downward, backward and inward along the 

 side and inferior surface until directly opposite to the place 

 of beginning. Make a similar incision upon the opposite 

 side of the tail, cut through all the connective tissue and 

 muscles down to the bone and then disarticulate with the 

 aid of the scalpel. Search for the arteries and control the 

 hemorrhage by torsion or ligation. The vessels will be 

 more readily found by loosening the tourniquet so as to 

 permit the blood to flow. 



Some operators prefer to begin the incision at the side of 

 the tail instead of upon the dorsal surface and in that way 

 have a dorsal and ventral flap instead of right and left as 

 indicated in Fig. i, Plate XVIII. The excision having been 

 completed the flaps are brought together by means of strong 

 silk or silk worm gut sutures as shown in Fig. 2. The 



