314 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
The nerve being free, it is raised with forceps, an aneurism needle or a 
piece of thread passed first underneath it, and a piece of it (about 2 cen- 
timeters) is amputated,—the division of the nerve being made first at the 
upper end of the incision. The wound is then washed with boiled water ; 
the clots of blood that it may contain are cleaned away; the edges of the 
wound are dusted with iodoform or covered with iodoformed vaseline, 
brought together with three stitches, including skin and muscle, and coated 
with collodion. Cicatrization may occur by first intention. If suppura- 
tion takes place, the stitches are cut off, the wound cleaned and treated 
antiseptically. It will be closed in about two weeks. 
Fig. 74.—Neurotomy of the sciatic.—A, aponeurosis of the leg ; C, subcuta- 
neous cellulo-adipous layer ; N, sciatic nerve. 
This operation permits some animals to be used, for a variable length of 
time, which had remained very lame notwithstanding repeated cauteriza- 
tion; still the operation cannot be considered as able to render the “im- 
mense”’ services claimed by some enthusiasts. 
Sprain of the flexor tendons is rare on the hind legs. Their treatment 
is the same as for those of the anterior extremity. Cool applications, 
moist heat, blistering or firing should be used. Should the lameness per- 
sist, and work is impossible, neurotomy of the sciatic can be used. (Rous- 
seau, Benjamin, Moller, Vogel). 
