46 SPRING-TIME SURGERY 



process consists of scrubbing the scrotal area 

 only, v^ith green soap and water until it is free 

 from visible dirt. The upper foot, leg and thigh 

 are then encased in an operating sheet which is 

 clean (not sterile) and which is applied in a few 

 seconds of time, being made so as to fit the parts 

 and supplied with proper means of attachments. 

 This protects the field against serious contamina- 

 tion from that source. The lower leg may be 

 covered in a like manner, but this is rarely neces- 

 sary. The soap and water scrubbing is confined 

 to a small area of the scrotum at the point where 

 the incision is to be made. This is important. 

 Uncleaned areas near the field of operation are 

 covered by a sheet and are just as removed from 

 the operation as if they were on another animal. 



The soap and water scrubbing over, and the 

 two hind legs encased in protective sheets, the 

 operator proceeds to scrub his hands and arms, 

 paying particular attention to the hand that is to 

 be inserted into the belly wall. Relative asepsis 

 only is aimed at by a one- to three-minute scrub- 

 bing of the hands with the brush and green soap, 

 followed by a short scrub in the bichloride solu- 



