SURGICAL TREATMENT 163 



and external oblique ; unhobble upper hind limb, draw 

 it backwards, and fix to a post or wall. Douche wound 

 with warm carbolic lotion (2-^ per cent.), and stop bleed- 

 ing from skin and muscle. With elbowed scissors slit 

 internal oblique muscle in the direction of its fibres, trim 

 the edges, and stop bleeding. Snip transversalis with 

 scissors and extend opening with finger, taking care not 

 to puncture fatty layer or peritoneum. Examine wound 

 and check bleeding. Sponge with warm carbolic lotion 

 (2^ per cent.) and remove excess of fluid. When satis- 

 fied that the wound is " dry," rinse the hands, push 

 the finger through fat and peritoneum, and enlarge 

 opening with blunt-pointed elbowed scissors. Pass a 

 large sponge, wrung out of {2^ per cent.) warm carbolic 

 solution, into abdomen, and get tarlatan ready. Pass the 

 hand into abdomen, bring out the bowel, and hold it 

 gently until assistant has placed pieces of tarlatan, 

 moistened with warm carbolic lotion (2J per cent.), round 

 the wound. This done, let the assistant take the bowel 

 between his fingers applied like clamps, the hands resting 

 one in front, the other behind the wound. Incline the 

 bowel towards the horse's thigh, and slit the free border 

 with scissors. Remove contents and wash its mucous 

 lining. With a fresh sponge clean the edges of the 

 wound, and apply Lembert's sutures. Place the stitches 

 -^ inch apart, and insert two or three beyond the 

 wound at each extremity. Pass all the sutures before 

 tying any. Wipe the edges as tying proceeds, and 

 shorten the suture ends to ^ inch from the knot. 

 When the wound has been closed, pull the bowel 

 well out of abdomen, and let assistant renew his hold. 

 Carefully sponge off clots, hairs, and suture ends, and 

 douche with boiled water that has been allowed to cool 

 to about io5° F. Remove packing from round the 



