214 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



treated antisepticall}-, the better. In the newl)'-born puppy 

 or kitten, it is better in most cases to leave the animal until 

 the tissues become larger and stronger before attempting 

 operati\e interference. 



Haemorrhoids or Piles. 



A dilated and \-er\' troublesome varicose condition of the 

 \'eins around and just within the anus is not infrequent in 

 fat old dogs, especiallv pugs, and gives rise to a good deal 

 of pain and irritation, especiall}' "s\'hen fasces are passed, and 

 \^-hen the animal is at all constipated. 



Syinptouis. — The patient is continually licking the parts 

 and rubbing along the ground. The anal surface frequently 

 appears moist and swollen, and the ffeces may be streaked 

 with blood. 



Treatment. — Attention should be paid to the state of the 

 bowels, mild doses of cascara, sulphur or other laxatives being 

 given regularly, whilst localh' the parts must be kept clean 

 and dressed with hazeline lotion (i to 8 or lo), or with extract 

 of hamamelis made into an ointment. The B.P. ointment 

 of galls and opium is also a valuable remed)-. If the piles 

 are ' internal ' — i.e., inside the rectum — these medicaments 

 must be so inserted that the}- come into direct contact with 

 the dilated veins, and their administration must be carried 

 out frequentl}' during the day. 



Should medicinal treatment prove ineffectual, operative 

 measures must be adopted. 



Operation. — The piles should be picked up one at a time 

 ^^•ith forceps, and either ligatured by passing a curved needle 

 and silk around them, the intervening portion being excised, 

 or clamped and removed \\'ith the actual cautery at dull red 

 heat. 



If they are to be ligatured, it is best to form a groove at 

 the base of each by cutting around it with a pair of blunt- 

 pointed scissors, the incision being deeper on the cutaneous 



