288 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



attempt a surgical operation that offers little encouragement to the 

 owner. The best judgment has to be exercised in determining a 

 matter of this kind, for no animal suffering from inflammation or 

 that is in a feverish condition is fit for human food. 



All cases of major operative surgery require the skill and dexterity 

 of the experienced veterinary surgeon, and no one else should attempt 

 such an operation, for unnecessary suffering must be prevented. 

 NeA^ertheless, the more knowledge and understanding an owner of 

 animals has of the principles of surgical operations and manipula- 

 tions, the better for all concerned. In the fii-st place, such an owner 

 Avill appreciate more fully the skill of the qualified veterinarian, and, 

 in the second place, he will be the better prepared and equipped to 

 render assistance to his suffering dumb dependents where no prac- 

 titioner is accessible and in cases of emergency. There are, moreover, 

 some minor operations upon cattle, some of which can hardly be 

 classed as surgical, that the stockman and famier should be able to 

 perform himself. 



In the performance of any operation upon an animal of the size 

 and strength of the bull or cow, the first consideration is to secure 

 the animal in such a manner as to preclude the possibility of its 

 injuring either itself or those taking any part in the operation. The 

 nature and time likely to be occupied by an operation must, of course, 

 largely determine the method to be adopted. 



The majority of operations with which the present chapter is con- 

 cerned are usually performed on the animal in a standing position. 

 A bull should always be held by a staff attached to the ring in his 

 nose. To secure the cow in a standing position, grasp the nose, the 

 finger and thumb being introduced into the nostrils, and press against 

 the cartilage which makes a division between them. If she has horns, 

 grasp one of them with the disengaged hand. If this is insufficient 

 the animal should be secured to a post, along the side of a fence, or 

 put into a stanchion. An excellent method of restraint is to tie a long 

 rope in a slip noose over the horns, pass it around the chest just 

 behind the forelegs, taking a half hitch on itself, taking another half 

 hitch in front of the hind limbs, passing the free end under the tail, 

 bringing it forward and making it fast either to the head or one of 

 the hitches. The head should be raised to the level of the back before 

 the final knot is tied, so as to render it too serious and painful a 

 matter for her to repeat the first attempt she makes to lower it. 

 Should the nature or extent of the operation be likely to take up 

 considerable time, it is invariably the best plan to throw the animal. 

 In the Ciise of the ox this is very easily done, either by use of horse 

 hobbles, should they be at hand, or by the application of a simple 

 rope. If the horse hobbles are used, they should be fastened on the 



