66 



VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



is performed by leaning over the body from right to left, in 

 order to avoid a side-sweeping kick. 



TECHNIQUE. First Step. — Locating the Seat of Oper- 

 ation. — The operation is performed in the left flank, except 

 in rare instances when the animal is down with the right side 

 uppermost and is in danger of death before it could be made 

 to rise. The rumen occupies the left hypochondrium, and is 

 therefore best reached from the left side. The exact location 

 of the penetration is immaterial. The most prominent part 

 of the distended abdomen anywhere between the anterior 

 angle of the ilium and the last false rib, and as near as possi- 

 ble to the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, is the 

 proper position. 



Second Step. — Disinfection of the Field and of the Instru- 



Fig. 31 — Gastrocentesis in the Ox. Position of Surgeon and Instrument. 



ment. — Except in the urgent case the hair is clipped with the 

 scissors from the selected spot, and then the region is washed 

 with the antiseptic solution. The instrument, unless previ- 

 ously sterilized, is passed through the flame of a match, candle 

 or gas-jet, or immersed in a strong chemical antiseptic. Al- 

 though this precaution is less important than in the horse, 

 too much dependence must not be placed upon the traditional 

 immunity of ruminants to serious infections from such 

 sources. A sensible disinfection of everything connected 

 with the procedure is always expected of a careful surgeon, 

 by a critical judge. 



Third Step. — Inserting the Canula. — A short incision is 

 made in the skin with the scalpel, in order to facilitate the 

 entrance of the instrument, which is then driven into the 



