OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT 83 
as the case may be; (3) in every case, whether rounding 
the thigh and the arm from above or below, the piece of 
rope completing the round should always finish below that 
portion preceding it, so that traction upon it from behind 
the animal’s back should tend to keep all portions of it 
from slipping below the knee and the hock. 
With the uppermost fore-limb secured to the hind-limb 
in the manner we have described, we have the underneath 
fore-limb suitably exposed for both the higher and lower 
operations of neurectomy. The position for this operation 
will be made better still if the lowermost limb (the one 
to be operated on) is removed from the hobbles and drawn 
forward by an assistant by means of a piece of rope fastened 
to the pastern. 
Taking what we have described as a general guide, other 
modifications of thus securing the foot will suggest them- 
selves to the operator to meet the special requirements 
of the case with which he is dealing. 
Regarding the administration of chloroform, no descrip- 
tion of the method is needed here, as it will be found fully 
detailed in most good works on general surgery. Where 
great immobility is needed, it is one of the most valuable 
means of restraint we have. Apart from that, its use in 
any serious operation is always to be advocated, if only on 
the score of humane consideration for the dumb animal 
helpless under our hands. 
B. INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED, 
In addition to those required for operations on the softer 
structures — such as scalpels, forceps, artery forceps, 
directors, scissors, etc.—the surgery of the foot demands 
instruments specially adapted for dealing with the horn. 
A great deal will depend upon the operator as to whether 
these are few or many. The average man of resource will 
deem a smith’s rasp and one or two strong drawing-knives 
amply sufficient, and on no account should they be omitted 
from the list of those ready to hand. 
6—2 
