2 1 6 SUBCL TANEOUS AMPUTA TION. 



be corrected or is not so readily overcome as is the amputa- 

 tion of the limb. 



Technic. Our herbivorous animals being devoid 

 of a clavicle, the anterior limb is attached to the thorax by 

 means of the skin and muscles only and is therefore compar- 

 atively easily amputated. Attach a cord to the pastern of 

 the limb, the shoulder of which lies most exposed or is most 

 readily reached and have one or two assistants exert traction 

 on it and draw it out as far as possible with safety to the 

 mother. Insert one hand armed with the hooked embry- 

 otomy knife up to the top of the scapula or as nearly thereto 

 as can be reached, the knife being well guarded in the palm 

 of the hand which rests against the limb of the fetus ; press 

 the knife into the skin and subcutaneous tissues and drawing 

 the hand downward slit them freely and deeply from the top 

 of the scapula down to the pastern. Lay aside the knife and 

 force the fingers between the skin and subjacent tissues of 

 the limb and while the assistant maintains gentle traction, 

 separate the skin upward by forcing the hand or the ball of 

 the thumb through the loose connective tissue until the 

 upper region of the scapula is reached. The separation of 

 the skin from the subjacent parts may require at certain 

 points, like the olecranon or carpus, the aid of the chisel 

 or knife to divide firm bands of connective tissue. This 

 separation of the skin from the subjacent parts has removed 

 the chief source of resistance to the tearing of the limb 

 away from the body. The next most important obstacle is 

 the pectoral muscles which should be torn asunder by sep- 

 arating them into small bundles and tearing them through 

 with the fingers between the sternum and limb, or the pro- 

 cess may be aided by incision with a knife or the chisel. 

 When these are well divided the remaining impediment to 

 tearing the shoulder away consists largely of the trapezius 

 and rhomboideus muscles at the top, the latissimus dorsi be- 

 hind, the great serratus and the angularis scapula which 



