SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 307 



apparatus as intricate as a self-binder and about as easy to move round 

 as the average elevator. But the above method will answer all prac- 

 tical purposes. The only instrument needed is an ordinary jointing 

 saw, which should be used as quietly and quickly as possible. 



Animals may be dehorned any time except in flytime, or when the 

 mercury is liable to drop to the neighborhood of zero, and cold water is 

 the only dressing needed. It is a good practice to deprive the animal 

 of food for twelve hours before operating. 



BLEEDING OR BLOOD-LETTING. 



Although nowadays this operation has fortunately become less fre- 

 quent than when it was generally considered the panacea for all ills, 

 there are beyond doubt some cases in which the operation is admittedly 

 the quickest and surest means of affording relief. 



In the ox the operation is usually performed on the left jugular vein, 

 which is large and is easily rendered so prominent as to prevent the 

 Ibility of mistake, by tying a cord around the neck below the place 

 where the incision is to be made. (Plate xxvii, Fig. 4.) The rope should 

 1) tied in a slip knot, so as to admit of its being easily undone, or a 

 rope used with a loop at one end and a series of good-sized knots at the 

 other, the loop and knots to be used as buttons and button holes. The 

 best instrument to use is a large-bladed fleam. (Plate xxvii. Fig. 3.) 

 After the animal is secured the operator stands by the shoulder, holds 

 the fleam in his left hand, the blade just short of touching the skin and 

 parallel to the direction of the vein, and the stick or mallet with which 

 to strike it in his right; one quick sharp blow should be sufficient. If 

 tin hair is long it is a wise precaution to moisten and smooth it down. 



When sufficient blood has been withdrawn the rope is removed and 

 the orifice closed by means of a pin inserted through the lips of the 

 incision in the skin only, and a piece of fine string or tow wound either 

 over or under it in the shape of a figure 8, or in a circle between the 

 skin and the pin (Plate xxvni, Fig. 10), the point of which should be 

 clipped off. To prevent the animal from rubbing the part and tearing 

 or dislodging the pin, it is advisable to tie the head up for a couple of 

 da) s, providing the animal's health will admit of it, after which the 

 pin may be removed and the wound left to heal in the usual manner. 



Before leaving the subject it may be well to add that as the good 

 effect* derived from bleeding depends more on the quickness with 

 which the blood is drawn than on the quantity extracted, it is of 

 uni>ortunee that a liberal opening should" be made into the blood vessel 

 and the blood allowed to How until a iKireeptible impression has Ijeeii 

 made on the pulse. 



AH has already been said, the l-st instrument in the hands of an 

 owner is the fleam, as owing to the toughness and thickness of the 

 skin of the ox the edge of a lancet is apt to turn and intlict a -.ish 

 in a direction other than the operator intended. 1 need hardly add 



