292 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



to be inserted, and cut it through, either with a sharp knife or a pair 

 of scissors (this should be done at both the entrance and exit) ; then 

 with a steady pressure and slight lateral movement insert the seton 

 by means of a seton needle. (PL XXVIII, figs. 1 and 2. ) The seton 

 should consist of a piece of strong tape, varying in breadth according 

 to circumstances, and should be kept in place either by a knot on 

 each end or by tying the ends together. 



Setons should be gently moved once a day after suppuration is set 

 up, and they should not be allowed to remain in over three weeks, or 

 a month at the outside. 



TRACHEOTOMY. 



This operation consists of making an opening in the trachea, or 

 windpipe. It is indicated whenever there is an obstruction from any 

 cause in the upper part of the respiratory tract which threatens the 

 death of the animal by asphyxia (suffocation). The mode of pro- 

 cedure is as follows: Have an assistant extend the animal's head as 

 far as possible to make the trachea tense and prominent; make a 

 longitudinal incision about 2 to 2-J inches long through the skin and 

 deeper tissues and trachea at the most prominent part of the trachea, 

 which is about the middle or upper third, and then insert the tracheot- 

 omy tube. (PI. XXVII, figs. 1 and 2.) The latter should be removed 

 once or twice daily and cleansed, and the wound dressed antisep- 

 tically. To ascertain when it is time to discontinue the use of the 

 tube and to allow the wound to close, the hand should be held over 

 the opening, which will necessitate the animal to use its natural pas- 

 sages in breathing. Observe if it is performed in a natural manner; 

 and if so, remove the tube and allow the wound to close. This is the 

 general mode of procedure where the surgeon has all the necessary 

 instruments and a moderate amount of time at his disposal. Often 

 it has to be performed in great haste without the proper instruments 

 and under great disadvantages, the operator having to quickly cut 

 down and open the trachea and spread the parts, using some instru- 

 ment improvised by him at the time. This operation only gives the 

 animal relief in breathing, and therefore the proper remedial treat- 

 ment should be adopted at the onset of the attack and continued 

 until the cause (the disease) has been overcome. 



CHOKING. 



Choking, or the lodging of foreign bodies in the gullet, is divided 

 into pharyngeal, cervical, and thoracic, according to location of the 

 obstruction. The symptoms in general are uneasiness on the part of 

 the patient, involuntary movement of the jaws, grinding of the teeth, 

 a profuse escape of saliva, and tympanites of the rumen. If the 

 obstruction is in the pharynx, the mouth speculum should be intro- 

 duced and the oiled hand and arm of the operator inserted and 



