294 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



of any size have been wounded or entirely severed, they should be 

 taken up and ligated. If the blood flows continuously and is dark 

 in color, it proceeds from a vein, but if bright-colored and jerky in 

 its flow, it is arterial. 



The taking up of an artery simply means the tying up of the bleeding 

 vessel, which should be accomplished as follows: To discover the 

 bleeding artery take a piece of clean absorbent cotton, dip it in cold 

 water, and by gentle pressure on the wound clear it of the accumu- 

 lated blood. The jet of fresh blood reveals the end of the vessel, 

 which is readily recognized by its whitish-yellow or bufl: color. It 

 should be seized with a forceps or pincers and slightly drawn clear 

 of the surrounding tissues. Now take the thread and place the mid- 

 dle of it under the artery, take up the ends, tie one simple knot 

 tightly, pressing the thread down with the forefinger so as not to 

 include the forceps, then a second one over it and cut off the ends. 

 The bleeding being arrested, the operator can now carefully clean 

 and inspect the wound, taking care to remove all blood and foreign 

 matters and clip the hair around the edges before proceeding to 

 stitch it up. If the wound is superficial, the lips may be brought 

 together by a series of independent stitches (PI. XXVII, fig. 6) 

 about one-half of an inch to three-fourths o£ an inch apart. The 

 stitches should not be drawn tightly; it is sufficient to bring the 

 edges of the wound in apposition. 



If the wound is deep, the needle should be introduced perpendicu- 

 larly at as great a distance from the lip of the wound as the depth 

 it is to be inserted, so as to give the thread sufficient hold. All the 

 stitches should be as nearly as possible at equal distances from the 

 border of the wound, to prevent unequal strain, and the knots should 

 be made at the side, not over the wound. (PI. XXVII, fig. 6.) 

 AVhen the wound is large and deep, care should be taken to have an 

 opening in the lowest part to allow for the escape of the discharges. 



In deep wounds which run crosswise of a limb or muscle it is often 

 advisable to use what is technically known as the " quilled suture," 

 which is most readily understood by reference to Plate XXVII, 

 figure 7. To accomplish this method a curved needle with an eye in 

 the point and a strong double thread should be used. The needle thus 

 threaded is introduced perpendicularly at least an inch from the 

 wound on one side, carried across below and brought out the same 

 distance from the border of the cut on the opposite side, the thread 

 being seized and held in position while the needle is withdrawn, leav- 

 ing a loop of thread protruding on one side and two loose ends on 

 the other side of each stitch. ^Yhen enough stitches have been made, 

 take a light piece of wood about the size of a lead pencil, correspond- 

 ing in length to the size of the wound or slightly longer, and insert it 

 tlu'ough each of the loops, drawing up the free ends of the threads, 



