286 DISEASES OP CATTLE. 



Large animals have to be cast and secured before an anesthetic is 

 administered. For complete anesthesia chloroform is generally em- 

 ployed; sometimes ether and chloroform. A sponge is wet with the 

 anesthetic and placed in a. nosebag and the animal allowed to inhale 

 the fumes. The amount of chloroform required to produce insensi- 

 bility to external impressions varies much in different cases and must 

 be regulated, as well as the admixture of air, by a competent assistant. 



If the probability of the success of an operation is remote and the 

 animal is in a healthy physical condition, so that its flesh is good for 

 human food, it is more advisable to let the butcher have the animal 

 than to attempt a surgical operation that offers little encouragement 

 to the owner. The best judgment has to be exercised in determining 

 a matter of this kind, for no animal suffering from inflammation or 

 that is in a feverish condition is fit for human food. 



All cases of major operative surgery require the skill and dexterity 

 of the experienced veterinary surgeon, and no one else should attempt 

 such an operation, for unnecessary suffering must be prevented as 

 well as the success of the operation attained. Nevertheless, the more 

 knowledge and understanding an owner of animals has of surgical 

 operations and manipulations, the better for all concerned. In the 

 first place, such an owner will appreciate more fully the skill of the 

 qualified veterinarian, and, in the second place, he will be the better 

 prepared and equipped to render assistance to his suffering dumb 

 dependents where no practitioner is accessible and in cases of emer- 

 gency. There are, moreover, sundry operations upon cattle, some of 

 which can hardly be classed as surgical, that the stockman and farmer 

 should be able to perform himself. 



In the performance of any operation upon an animal of the size and 

 strength of the bull or cow, the first consideration is to secure the ani- 

 mal in such a manner as to preclude the possibility of its injuring 

 either itself or those taking any part in the operation, for two or more 

 are invariably necessary. The nature and time likely to be occupied 

 by an operation must, of course, largely determine the method to be 

 adopted. 



The majority of operations with which the present chapter is con- 

 cerned are usually performed on the animal in a standing position." 

 To secure the cow in this position, grasp the nose, the finger and 

 thumb being introduced into the nostrils, and press against the carti- 

 lage which makes a division between them. If she has horns, grasp 

 one of them with the disengaged hand. If this is insufficient the ani- 

 mal should be secured to a post, the side of a building or put in a 

 stanchion. A very excellent method of restraint is to tie a long rope 

 in a slip noose over the horns, pass it around the chest just behind 

 the fore legs, taking a half hitch on itself, taking another half hitch 

 in front of the hind limbs, passing the free end under the tail, bring- 



« A bull should always be held by a staff attached to the ring in his nose. 



