108 ANTISEPTIC TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. 
legs together above the knees, remove the leg to be operated 
upon from the hobble, tie a strap around the foot and draw it 
forward to tense the tissues of the leg in their natural posi- 
tions relative to each other; clip, or, better, shave, the hair 
from the field of operation, wash it well with soap and water, 
rinse it with a three per cent. solution of carbolic acid, then, 
with sterilized instruments and hands, make an incision one 
inch long just below the fetlock over the nerve, take it up with 
a hook, dissect it out carefully, give it gentle traction down- 
wards, to stretch it a little and cut it off as close as possible 
to the upper end of the incision, then catch the lower portion 
with the artery forceps and roll it downwards with consid- 
erable force so as to remove as much of the nerve as possible, 
taking out at least an inch and a half. Now pour into the 
wound a little of a one per cent solution of bichloride of mer- 
cury ; after letting it soak for a minute lay a piece of absorbent 
cotton over it and bandage temporarily. Turn horse over and 
repeat the same details on the other side after removing the 
bandage. After rinsing both wounds again with the bichloride 
lotion, apply a dry dressing of powdered boracic acid and 
iodoform in equal parts with a piece of absorbent cotton large 
enough to reach around the pastern and bandage rather tight- 
ly so as to press the edges of the skin together. Do not touch 
it till the 4th day, then if the operation was well done, union 
will have taken place without visible granulation. 
If there is any suppuration, rinse it out with a one-fifth per 
cent solution of bichloride and do it up again with the dry 
dressing. After removal of the section of the nerve a stitch 
may be taken in the skin if the surgeon prefers. 
During the operation if there is haemorrhage enough to be 
inconvenient mop the wound with wads of absorbent cotton, 
never with a sponge. In about two weeks the horse is ready 
for work with no lasting evidences of the operation but a white 
line that becomes hidden by the hair. 
ABSCESS IN THE LEVATOR HUMERI. 
A tumor containing a small deep seated abscess often occurs 
in the levator humeri just above the shoulder joint, that, in 
