72 FISTULA AND POLL-EViiL 
gers of major operations, it is essential to in- 
vestigate carefully into the patient’s physical 
condition. Weak, emaciated, enfeebled sub- 
jects should be given a preparatory treatment 
that will tend to build them up in strength and 
vigor. This may consist in evacuating and 
irrigating large abscesses, cleaning them up 
over the soiled shoulders, grooming the body, 
good feeding and any general good care that 
will improve the health. The week or two re 
quired for such preparatory treatment is not 
lost, since the improved health before the op- 
eration will shorten the duration of the period 
of. post-operative convalescence, and will re- 
duce the rate of mortality which in enfeebled 
subjects is bound to be high on account of 
shock and the magnitude of the invading 
wound. Large wounds cannot be made in the 
bodies of an animal with impunity; in en- 
feebled subjects they are positively disastrous. 
Infections run riot in them and without ef- 
fectual resistance toxemias are fatal. We, 
therefore, advise against the operation in sub- 
jects not physically fit to stand the ordeal. 
Dieting is also essential as a preparatory 
step, as no animal may be safely cast and sub- 
mitted to a severe surgical operation with its 
alimentary canal filled with ingesta. This is 
especially the case with subjects to be anesthe- 
