88 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



animal, and its effects last for some time. The blood 

 pressure is not affected long after cessation of the opera- 

 tion, for fluid matters are rapidly absorbed from the 

 tissues to keep up the due bulk of the blood. It very 

 seriously diminishes the number of red corpuscles present, 

 but increases the amount of fibrin in the blood. This 

 means is seldom called for except in relief of acute con- 

 gestions which threaten to bring about speedy death. 

 Local bleedings by scarifications and opening of vessels is 

 seldom resorted to in treatment of cattle. The temporal 

 artery has sometimes been opened in attempt to relieve 

 congestion of the brain, but the vessel is difficult of access. 

 The cephalic, saphena, and superficial abdominal veins are 

 sometimes opened. 



Setons produce long-continued and considerable inflam- 

 mation, resulting in suppuration. They may be inserted by 

 means of the ordinary seton needle, which can be removed 

 from the handle, or by a fixed needle which has the eye 

 near the point (see Fig. 14), it is threaded after insertion, 

 and then withdrawn. The dewlap is the general seat of this 

 operation, but setons may be introduced into other parts, as 

 through fistulas, &c. They are usually inserted transversely 

 through the dewlap, and may be simple or medicated with 

 blistering ointment or turpentine solution of croton. 



Fig. 14. — Seton needle with fixed handle. 



