OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT 



85 



construction. These are to be found in the so-called sage- 

 knife, and the modern (French) pattern of drawing-knife. 



The modern drawing-knife differs from the smith's 

 instrument in being attached to a straight, instead of a 

 curved, handle, and in usually being sharp on both edges 

 instead of only on one. These are made in various sizes 

 (Fig. 46, a, h), and the blades flat, curved on the flat, 

 or curved at an angle with the edges of the haft. 



The sage-knife, as its name indicates, is a knife with 

 a lanceolate-shaped blade. These also may be obtained 

 in varying forms and sizes (Fig. 46, c, d, e). Fig. 46, r, is a 

 single-edged, right-handed sage-knife. Fig. 46, d, is a left- 



FiG. 47. — ^Symes's Abscess-knife. 



handed instrument of the same type. The double-edged 

 sage-knife is represented in Fig. 46, e. 



It may be mentioned too, in passing, that the ordinary 

 Symes's abscess-knife (Fig. 47) is a most useful instrument 

 when performing the operation of partial excision of the 

 lateral cartilages, its peculiar shape lending itself admirably 

 to the niceties of the operation. 



One or two good-shaped firing-irons will also be found 

 useful. They will lighten the labour of tediously excavat- 

 ing grooves with the knife, where that procedure is neces- 

 sary ; and, used in certain positions to be afterwards 

 described, will afi"ord just that necessary degree of stimulus 

 to the horn-secreting structures of the foot, which the use 

 of the knife alone will not. 



The man in country practice will also be well advised in 



