SECURING THE MOUTH. 1 5 



and tie once on the top of the nasal bones, twisting the two 

 loose ends several times round one another and fixing them 

 to a leather collar previously placed around the neck (Fig. 3). 



The clove hitch (Fig. 2), however, is undoubtedly the superior 

 method, as it is very easy to apply, effectually keeps the jaws 

 closed, and can be removed at a moment's notice by simply 

 applying traction to either one end or the other. The method 

 by which it is made is difficult to describe, although it can 

 be readily demonstrated with a piece of cord or tape. Two 



Fig. 1. 

 Photograpli of dog held as described. 



loops are made in reverse directions and folded on each other 

 so that they fall as illustrated in Fig. 4. 



Having thus prevented the animal from biting, the next stej) 

 is to fix the patient in such a position as will be most con- 

 venient for the performance of the operation, and at the same 

 time give the minimum amount of risk of injury. For minor 

 operations, such as the lancing of some abscesses, etc., all that is 

 necessary is to get an assistant to hold the dog or cat, but for 



