640 OPERATIONS. 



with the second, third, and fourth fingers of the left hand, while 

 the index finger and thumb hold the fleam. 



When the blood begins to flow, the part of the vein just 

 below the incision should be pressed with the fingers in order to 

 prevent the blood accumulating in the loose tissue underneath the 

 skin. The movement of the horse's head should be restricted as 

 much as possible. 



The blood should be received into a measure, so that the amount 

 abstracted can be ascertained at any moment, and ca,re should be 

 taken that the vessel which receives the blood does not press 

 against the vein. 



Bleeding to the extent of three or four quarts will be sufficient 

 in ordinary cases. 



When enough blood has been taken away from the animal, the 

 operator should place a finger on the orifice, and should then grad- 

 ually remove the fingers which were engaged in pressing the vein 

 just below the incision. If this precaution be neglected, the horse 

 will run the risk of being killed by a sudden rush of air into the 

 vein on the compression ceasing abruptly. When the air, in this 

 case, enters the vein, it is carried to the right side of the 

 heart, where it is churned up into froth, so that the heart is unable 

 to send a due supply of blood to the lungs ; the result being that 

 the animal dies from suffocation. 



In order to close the wound, the operator should press the edges 

 together with the thumb and index finger of his left hand, taking 

 oare not to pull them towards himself, lest a tumour of infiltrated 

 blood may form underneath the skin. He should also press the 

 finger and thumb lightly against the neck, in order to steady the 

 part. A pin held in the fingers of the right hand should be passed 

 through the centre of the edges of the wound ; and some cotton or 

 tow should be wound round the ends of the pin in the form of a 

 figure of 8, and knotted. The head of the pin is pushed down, 

 and its point cut off so that it may not catch on anything. The 

 pin may be removed after a week's time. 



Blistering. 



The hair should be closely clipped or shaved off the part to be 

 blistered, and the ointment should be rubbed into the skin for ten 

 minutes or a quarter of an hour. The longer the rubbing is kept 

 up, the greater will be the effect. The horse's head and tail, if 

 they can reach the blistered part, should be tied up. If the 

 blister does not " rise " next day, some more of the application may 

 be rubbed on, or the effect of a little friction with the hand may 



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