14 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



ing toward a central sewer connection, and with its hot and 

 cold water supply directly adjacent, is an important feature. 

 The pre-operative preparation of the field, the post-operative 

 cleansing of -the blood-soaked surroundings of the surgical 

 wound, and lastly the after-care of the wound during the 

 patient's sojourn in the hospital, are carried out in this con- 

 venient space. 



The horse operating table is indispensable, as it easily ex- 

 cels the other restraining apparatuses in all of the counts by 

 which these are judged. Few assistants are required; the 

 surgical field can be well controlled ; the dangers from acci- 

 dents to the horse and to the operator are reduced to the 

 minimum ; accidental contamination of the surgical wound 

 is easily prevented; the operator's position is comfortable; 

 and finally, the operation can be performed in a slow, delib- 

 erate, painstaking manner on account of absence of formid- 

 able opposition to the restraint. 



This apparatus occupies one corner of the area, sufficient 

 distance from the walls to afford freedom of movements. 

 (Fig. i.) - 



The open bedded space for casting large animals and for 

 operating in the standing position is also indispensable. To 

 monopolize this precious space by placing the horse operating 

 table in the center of the room is soon recognized as a serious 

 error, not only because it may often be needed as a casting 

 space when harness restraint is thought preferable, but be- 

 cause it affords an excellent place for all the various standing 

 operations; firing, standing neurotomies, lancings, paring 

 of feet, etc. As seen in the accompanying plan, this is a large 

 square space when the canine table is turned against the wall_ 

 and the portable table is set aside. The bedding, which may 

 be of shavings, sawdust, peat or tan bark, is spread over the 

 entire floor excepting the wash stand and the space occupied 

 by the forge, sterilizer and stove, and is kept moist by an oc- 

 casional sprinkling of antiseptic water. Parts of this litter 

 that become soiled with droppings, blood or pus are shoveled 

 up and replaced with a new quota. This plan is preferable 

 to that of leaving parts of the floor bare, because sweeping, — 

 the most harmful practice in a veterinary operating room, — 

 is obviated. In an operating room managed in this manner, 

 a ray of sunlight through a window will always show a mini- 

 mum amount of suspended dust. 



The canine table is a smooth, varnished board 2x4 feet, 

 hinged to the wall, where it is fastened with hook and eye 

 when not in use. It has two hinged legs at the free end, 



