56 THE ROARING OPERATION 



normal position of forced inspiration, so that no air can be- 

 come impacted into the ventricle to force the vocal cords 

 and arytenoid cartilage downward and inward to obstruct 

 the free ingress of air. 



2. It is aimed to complete the operation without wound- 

 ing a cartilage either in the essential operation when re- 

 moving the ventricular mucosa, during the invading incision 

 through the crico-thyroidean membrane, or later, should 

 dyspnoea occur, by inserting the laryngeal tube through 

 the existing incision instead of performing tracheotomy. 



Technic. Almost all animals are readily and by far best 

 operated upon in the standing position. The animal should 

 be confined in stocks, or otherwise, in such a manner that 

 his head may be securely held in an elevated and extended 

 position. The safety of the operator further demands that 

 the patient shall be so secured that he can neither rear nor 

 strike. The first is best accomplished by placing a rope or 

 bar across the neck just in front of the withers. The latter 

 may be attained by stretching a stout rope across in front 

 ■of the forearms or radii. With gentle animals these pre- 

 cautions are superfluous. 



Resistant animals need to be cast or confined upon the 

 operating table. General anaesthesia upon the recumbent 

 animal is usually unnecessary, and is only demanded in 

 those cases of unusual resistance to confinement, where the 

 patient may injure it.self by its violent struggles. 



Ordinarily amole anaesthesia, whether from the stand- 

 point of surgical efficiency or of sentiment, is obtainable by 

 the use of local anaesthetics, in combination with adrena- 

 lin. 



Shave and disinfect the operative area, and inject subcu- 

 taneously a sufficient amount of the local anaesthetic. 



Make a longitudinal incision over the larynx through the 

 skin and. fascia as accurately as possible on the median 

 raphe, commencing opposite to the anterior extremity of 



