CHAPTER XX. 



IMPLEMENTS AND APPARATTTS. 



"Wliat to Keep, and How to Use Them. 



Catheter. — This is a round gutta percha tube, with one end open, the 

 ather rounded and near the end with two openings. Used to draw away 

 the water when the horse is unable to pass it naturall}'. They are also 

 introduced into deep ulcers, and liquid injected through them by means 

 of a syringe. In using the catheter, it should be well oiled and carefully 

 awd slowly pushed along the orifice or canal. 



Drawing Tcnife. — Frog knife. The knife in common use by black- 

 smiths ; a thin blade with a shaqDly-curyed end fixed in a handle, and 

 used in cutting into and paring the hoof. 



Firing iron. — A heayy, blunt-edged blade fixed in a handle, and some- 

 times used for blistering when the actual cautery is considered necessary. 

 Valuable in skillful hands. 



Forceps. — These are pincers with long jaws, and used for extracting 

 splinters, pieces of bone, or for seizing arteries in order to tie them up. 



Knives. — These should be always keen and should be both sharp and 

 round-pointed. A heayy bistoury is a long, narrow-bladed knife for 

 opening deep wounds and abscesses. 



Lancet. — These are of three kind : the thumb lancet, the spring lan~ 

 eet and the fleam. The thumb lancet is gauged by the thumb, the spring 

 lancet by a spring, and the fleam is struck by a hard wood stick. Always 

 make the incision lengthwise of the vein. 



Ligatures. — Cords for t^ing arteries, and in t^ing, a surgeon's knot 

 should be used. Instead of passing the end of the cord once round the 

 other, pass it twice around before drawing tight. It will hold securely. 



Probes. — These are made of silyer^\li'e, with the ends slightly knobbed. 

 They are useful in exploring wounds. 



RoiceL — This is a ring of leather, an inch or so in diameter, the rim 

 33 



