72 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
mankind, is of frequent use in veterinary practice. It squeezes, 
crushes, and divides soft tissues, somewhat like a saw. Mucous 
membranes, connective tissues, muscles, blood vessels, fibrous 
layers, and neoplasms give way to the progressive striction of the 
écraseur, and are cut without hemorrhage, if the instrument is worked 
with the proper slowness. Its action is principally remarkable upon 
blood vessels: the middle and internal coats of the arteries are 
ruptured and retract upon them- 
selves, while the external coat 
stretches and closes the open mouth 
of the vessel. Too rapidly made, 
the division does not prevent hem- 
orrhage ; but if one acts slowly, if © 
the cutting of the tissues is made by 
gradual shortening of the chain, every 
30 or 50 seconds of time, according 
to the degree of vascularity, there is 
scarcely any flow of blood. The 
pain, which is very great when the 
tissues are strongly compressed, sub- 
sides as soon as the division begins. 
In general, the wound of such cut- 
ting cicatrizes a little more slowly 
than that made with the bistoury : 
the anatomic elements of the super- 
ficial layer undergo a process of 
necrosis. 
The process of searing is princi- 
pally used in the removal of tumors 
well defined, with little adhesion to 
the surrounding tissues. The skin 
‘being incised, the neoplasm is is- 
Fig. 33-—Chassaignac’s ecraseur. olated either by digital pressures 
or tractions made with the hands, 
which separate the parts in tearing the connective tissue; or by 
giving to the neoplasm movements of traction and of torsion; or 
by combination of the two modes. Although fearing is advantage- 
ous inthis, that it permits of saving the principal blood vessels and 
nerves, it is generally very painful in regions rich in nerve rami- 
fications ; it does not allow the complete removal of invading ne- 
oplasms, extending to the lymphatics, and’ leaves ‘‘roots for new 
growths, ’which give rise to secondary tumors. 
Dull dissection, the enucleation of Percy, is made with the dull end 
of a directory or spatula. The directory is generally used, with 
which the connective tissue is torn and isolated without danger of 
