Accidents and Operations. as 383 
AMPUTATIONS. ay 
Amputation, or severation, is sometimes had recourse to 
in veterinary practice, when injury or disease has rendered 
the removal of the part or member nereseary for the 
salvation of life. 
The limbs are chiefly subjected to this operation, and 
although amputation of a canine leg is not of common 
occurrence, yet several very successful issues have followed 
the operation, an instance of which I recorded from my 
own practice in 1879. 
Amputation may be accomplished by either the flap or 
circular method, the modus operandi being much the same 
as in human surgery. Everything should be arranged 
beforehand, and in readiness for the operator. It is 
_ advisable to have three assistants if possible in amputations 
of importance—one to administer and control the 
anzsthetic, one to assist in holding the limb and securing 
the vessels, and another to ligature. A veterinary surgeon, 
however, is not commonly blessed with ‘so much 
professional help, and therefore has to do the best he can, 
often relying on the assistance of a medical friend or 
colleague. 
- In the lower animals a tourniquet is always advisable, as 
it ensures, if properly applied, complete pressure of the 
arterial branches, as well as the chief vessel. The arteries 
may be taken up by torsion or ligature. Unless for some 
special reason it is contra-indicated, chloroform or ether 
should always be used in amputations. 
In the case I have alluded to as. occurring in my 
practice, the necessity of amputation was due to compound 
comminuted fracture of the radius and ulna. Before I 
commenced the severation the integuments. were drawn 
well up towards the humerus, so that upon resuming their 
position afterwards they might form a gone covering to 
the stump. 
A sweeping circular cut divided all tissues down to the 
