90 . CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



it to go up and down steps, or to jump from a height ; neglect 

 of these precautions is liable to lead to the re-opening of the 

 wound and escape of the intestines. 



Prognosis is excellent, provided rigid attention is paid to 

 antisepsis ; and, as a general rule, beyond the removal of the 

 cutaneous sutures four or five days later, the wound requires 

 no further attention. Hernia may result in about four or five 

 per cent, of cases, but is generally traceable to some neglect 

 of detail, and now and then a buried silkworm gut suture 

 gives rise to irritation, and requires to be removed. These 

 conclusions are based upon more than 120 consecutive cases. 



The median line is preferable wherever it can be conveniently 

 used, because, (i) there is less tissue to cut through; (2) less 

 haemorrhage, the blood-vessels here being few and small ; (3) 

 if, unfortunately, pus does form in the abdomen, it has a better 

 chance of draining away ; and (4) healing is very rapid, provided 

 that septic infection does not take place. 



Operation for Obstruction of the Anal Glands. — The anal 

 glands frequently become filled with purulent and semi-solid 

 material which cannot escape, and gives rise to symptoms of 

 irritation and annoyance on the part of the animal. 



Temporary relief can be afforded by the application of pres- 

 sure, the contents being squeezed out, but as a rule they refill 

 in a very short time. 



In such cases the parts should be painted with solution of 

 cocaine (four or five per cent.), the gland freely opened with 

 a Symes' knife or fine scalpel, and the interior scraped with 

 a small, sharp curette. The parts are then treated antisepti- 

 cally like an ordinary wound. 



Recovery is usually uninterrupted, although sometimes a little 

 prolonged. 



Anal Tumours are treated as already directed under the 

 heading of tumours. Unfortunately they are often of a malig- 

 nant nature. 



Operation for Fistula of the Anus.— True fistula of the anus 

 is comparatively rare in the dog ; enlarged anal glands and 



