282 KENNEL DISEASES. 
Were the patient of largest breed, and near, or had passed, maturity, the 
anesthesia should be produced by a four per cent solution of cocaine, about 
twenty minims being hypodermically injected. While for smaller breeds it 
would be necessary to reduce the quantity. 
A longitudinal incision should be made through the skin down to the sac, 
care being taken not to injure the same. The opening in the walls being 
exposed to view, the protruding parts should be pushed back, and with the knife 
the edges of the ring through which they passed should be freshened or scari- 
fied. They should then be drawn together by sutures or stitches of catgut, — 
two being usually required with pups, and three with old dogs, — and a little dry 
powdered sulphur be sprinkled over the edges. 
In stitching the skin, silk can be used. Over the greater part of the incision 
the stitches may be quite close, but not tight. At one end of it however the last 
stitch should be some distance from the corner of the cut, that an opening of 
goodly size be left for free drainage. 
A little iodoform having been sprinkled on, there remains merely to apply a 
compress of some antiseptic gauze, and bandage as neatly as possible. But the 
bandage must soon become disarranged and worthless. Fortunately, however, 
much swelling of the skin speedily occurs, and thus the parts within are in a 
measure protected. 
To bathe first with hot water and afterward with a solution of sublimate, 1 to 
2000, will be necessary, twice daily, while there is much discharge. When that 
has become slight, boracic acid may be applied after the cleansing process. 
The patient must be kept in a warm place, and have bedding as fresh and 
clean as possible. 
Recovery is generally complete before the end of the third week; and not- 
withstanding the absence of bandages and consequent exposure of the parts, 
nearly all patients operated on do well. 
During the first week the diet should be a trifle scanty, and of the simplest 
articles of food, to obviate the danger of “ bloating.” 
If a laxative is needed, sweet oil or magnesia may be given. 
Dry powdered sulphur has been recommended for application to the parts 
within before the cut in the skin is closed. This is considered advisable because 
were iodoform used on very young pups dangerous toxicity might be produced 
by it. This objection, however, would scarcely hold with mature dogs. 
ABDOMINAL SURGERY. 
In no direction has greater advancement been made in surgical science 
than in the treatment of abdominal diseases and injuries. It is not very long 
