OPEEATIONS ON THE FOOT 83 



as the case may be ; (3) in every case, whether rounding 

 the thigh and the arm from above or below, the piece of 

 rope completing the round should always finish below that 

 portion preceding it, so that traction upon it from behind 

 the animal's back should tend to keep all portions of it 

 from slipping below the knee and the hock. 



With the uppermost fore-limb secured to the hind-limb 

 in the manner we have described, we have the underneath 

 fore-limb suitably exposed for both the higher and lower 

 operations of neurectomy. The position for this operation 

 will be made better still if the lowermost limb (the one 

 to be operated on) is removed from the hobbles and drawn 

 forward by an assistant by means of a piece of rope fastened 

 to the pastern. 



Taking what we have described as a general guide, other 

 modifications of thus securing the foot will suggest them- 

 selves to the operator to meet the special requirements 

 of the case with which he is dealing. 



Eegarding the administration of chloroform, no descrip- 

 tion of the method is needed here, as it will be found fully 

 detailed in most good works on general surgery. Where 

 great immobility is needed, it is one of the most valuable 

 means of restraint we have. Apart from that, its use in 

 any serious operation is always to be advocated, if only on 

 the score of humane consideration for the dumb animal 

 helpless under our hands. 



B. INSTRUMENTS EEQUIRED. 



In addition to those required for operations on the softer 

 structures — such as scalpels, forceps, artery forceps, 

 directors, scissors, etc. — the surgery of the foot demands 

 instruments specially adapted for dealing with the horn. 



A great deal will depend upon the operator as to whether 

 these are few or many. The average man of resource will 

 deem a smith's rasp and one or two strong drawing-knives 

 amply sufficient, and on no account should they be omitted 

 from the list of those ready to hand. 



6—2 



