302 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



or to act as a stimulant or count erirritant. To insert a seton, the 

 place of entrance and exit having been decided on, with the finger and 

 thunib make a small fold of the skin transverse to the direction the 

 seton is to be inserted, and cut it through, either with a sharp knife 

 or a pair of scissors (this should be done at both the entrance and 

 exit) ; then with a steady pressure and slight lateral movement in- 

 sert the seton by means of a seton needle. (PI. XXVIII, figs. 1 

 and 2.) The seton should consist of a piece of strong tape, varying 

 in breadth according to circumstances, and should be kept in place 

 either by a knot on each end or by tying the ends together. 



Setons should be gently moved once a day after suppuration is set 

 up, and they should not be allowed to remain in over three weeks, or 

 a month at the outside. 



TRACHEOTOMY. 



This operation consists of making an opening in the trachea, or 

 windpipe. It is indicated whenever there is an obstruction fi-om any 

 cause in the upper part of the respiratory tract which threatens the 

 death of the animal by asphyxia (suffocation). The mode of pro- 

 cedure is as follows: Have an assistant extend the animal's head as 

 far as possible to make the trachea tense and prominent; make a 

 longitudinal incision about 2 to 2^ inches long through the skin and 

 deeper tissues and trachea at the most prominent part of the trachea, 

 which is about the middle or upper third, and then insert the tracheot- 

 omy tube. ( PI. XXVII, figs. 1 and 2. ) The latter should be removed 

 once or twice daily and cleansed, and the wound dressed antisep- 

 tically. To ascertain when it is time to discontinue the use of the 

 tube and to allow the wound to close, the hand should be held over 

 the opening, which will necessitate the animal to use its natural pas- 

 sages in breathing. Observe if it is performed in a natural manner; 

 and if so, remove the tube and allow the wound to close. This is the 

 general mode of procedure where the surgeon has all the necessary 

 instruments and a moderate amount of time at his disposal. Often 

 it has to be performed in great haste without the proper instruments 

 and under great disadvantages, the operator having to quickly cut 

 down and open the trachea and spread the parts, using some instru- 

 ment improvised by him at the time. This operation only gives the 

 animal relief in breatliing, and therefore the proper remedial treat- 

 ment should be adopted at the onset of the attack and continued 

 until the cause (the disease) has been overcome. 



CHOKING. 



Choking, or the lodging of foreign bodies in the gullet, is divided 

 into pharyngeal, cervical, and thoracic, according to location of the 

 obstruction. The symptoms in general are uneasiness on the part of 



