99 



and you have not accomplished your purpose until you have done so. 

 It is quickly manifested when the windpipe is severed, the hot air 

 rushes out, and when air is taken in it is sucked in with a noise. A 

 slight hemorrhage may result (it never amounts to much), which is 

 easily controlled by washing the wound with a sponge and cold water; 

 do not get any of the water in the windpipe. Do not neglect to instruct 

 your assistant to hold the head down immediately after the operation, 

 so that the neck will he in a horizontal line. This will prevent the 

 blood getting into the windpipe and allow it to drop directly on the 

 ground. If you have the self- adjustable tube, it retains its place in 

 the wound without further trouble after it is inserted. The other kind 

 requires to be secured in position by means of two tapes or strings 

 tied around the neck. After the hemorrhage is somewhat abated 

 sponge the blood away and see that the tube is thoroughly clean, then 

 insert it, directing the tube downwards towards the lungs. To insure 

 the tube being clean, it is best to keep it immersed in a solution of 1 

 on nc% of carbolic acid in 20 ounces of water for about thirty minutes 

 previous to inserting it in the windpipe. 



The immediate relief this operation affords is wonderful to behold. 

 The animal, a few minutes before on the verge of death from sufl'oca- 

 tion, emitting a loud wheezing sound with every breath; with haggard 

 countenance, body swaying, pawing, gasping, fighting for breath, is 

 now breathing tranquilly, and ten to one is nosing about the stall in 

 search of something to eat. 



The tube should be removed once a day and cleaned with the carbolic 

 acid solution (1 to 20), and the discharge washed away from the wound 

 with a solution of carbolic acid, 1 part to 40 parts water. Several times 

 a day the hand should be held over the opening in the tube to test the 

 animal's ability to breathe through the nostrils, and as soon as it is 

 demonstrated that breathing can be performed in the natural way the 

 tube should be removed, the wound thoroughly cleansed with the car- 

 bolic acid solution (1 to 40), and closed by inserting four or five stitches 

 through the skin and muscle. Do not include the cartilages of the wind- 

 pipe in the stitches. Apply the carbolic acid solution to the wound 

 three or four times a day until healed. When the tube is removed to 

 clean it the lips of the wound may be pressed together to ascertain 

 whether or not the horse can breathe through the larynx. The use of 

 the tube should be discontinued as soon as possible. 



It is true that tracheotomy tubes are seldom to be found on farms, 

 and especially when most urgently required. In such instances there 

 is nothing left to be done but, with a strong needle, pass a wax end or 

 other strong string through each side of the wound, including the car- 

 tilage of the wind-pipe, and keep the wound opeu by tying the strings 

 over the neck. The operation of tracheotomy is not always successful 

 in saving the animal's life, and the principal reason of this is, that it is 

 deferred too long and the animal is beyond recovery before it is at- 

 tempted. 



