RESECTION OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGE. 201 



joint is avoided. Remnants of cartilage at its juncture 

 with the retrossal process of the os pedis, and granulations 

 are to be removed with the curette. Cut away with the 

 scissors and knife any remnants of cartilage adherent to 

 the flap, p, thin if necessary the entire flap and excise the 

 fistulous openings, g. After thorough disinfection of the 

 entire field of operation sprinkle it over thickly with 

 powdered iodoform and return the flap to its former position 

 and retain it there by a sufficient number of interrupted 

 sutures as shown in Fig. 2. The first sutures to be applied 

 should be at the border line between the skin and coronary 

 band so as to insure accurate apposition at this point. 

 Sprinkle the wound surface with iodoform and cover the 

 parts over with iodoform gauze and tampons which rest 

 firmly upon the perpendicular wall of horn. Finally invest 

 the hoof and pastern up to the fetlock joint with an abund- 

 ance of oakum saturated with i-iooo sublimate solution 

 and lay a heavy tar bandage over it, the turns of which 

 must completely invest it at every point and render the 

 dressing impermeable to moisture. Remove the elastic liga- 

 ture. If the animal is free from fever, feels and eats well, 

 the bandege is left in position from 12 to 14 days. Healing 

 by first intention. 



The two chief dangers in the operation are the opening 

 of the corona-pedal articulation and the persistence of a 

 scar in the coronary band resulting in a quarter crack. 



If the operation has been kept thoroughly antiseptic, the 

 opening of the articulation is not necessarily serious. 



The question of preventing a weakening scar at the 

 coronary incision is one of strict antisepsis and accurate 

 suturing. The operation frequently fails under indifferent 

 technic. It is an operation for the careful surgeon only. 



