rilE LIMBS AND TAIL 341 



operation has been done antiseptically, the bandage and 

 sphnt need not be removed for a week, by which time the 

 wound will have healed.^ The support of the splint is, 

 however, necessary for at least a month or six weeks. 



Amputation of a Limb. 



For this operation a general anaesthetic should always be 

 given. Wherever possible, the parts around the site of 

 incision are carefully shaved, cleansed, disinfected, and 

 bandaged a couple of hours before the animal is secured for 

 the operation. The position in which the patient is placed 

 must be arranged according to the discretion of the operator. 



In cases where one leg is injured, it is a good plan to 

 secure the three sound legs with hobbles, and instruct an 



Amputation Saw. 



assistant to gently, but firmly, keep hold of the injured one 

 above the seat of the accident until anaesthesia is complete. 

 When this has taken place, the bandage is removed and the 

 injured leg placed on a cloth which has been boiled or other- 

 wise rendered aseptic. 



Operation. — After having placed a tourniquet of tape or 

 elastic above the seat of operation, the skin is pulled down- 

 wards as far as possible and incised with a sharp-pointed 

 scalpel or long thin-bladed amputation knife. The incision 

 may be either circular or flap-shaped, the latter being 

 the one which has given the best results. The circular 

 incision is made with one sweep of the knife all around the 

 limb, the flap method being done by incising the skin in the 

 form of a U (see Fig. 222). The skin is pushed back, and 

 ' Journal of Comparative Mediciiu and Vetcrinai-y Archives^ November 

 1900 (Cecil French, D.V.S.). 



