86 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



texture so as to withstand the traction. The "double-half- 

 hitch" which can be drawn tighter and tighter without slip- 

 ping loose is preferable for the first knot, but when tightened 

 to the desired point it must be fortified against loosening by 

 the addition of two simple knots. Sectional ligatures are 

 applied by passing a thread through the base of the growth 

 with a needle. If it is desired to divide a growth in but two 

 parts a double thread is passed through the center of the 

 base, the needle is cut off, and then each half is tied separ- 

 ately. To apply a quadruple ligature the growth is thus 

 transfixed in two directions so that the threads cross each 

 other at the center of the base. Although by this method 

 each quarter is not encircled by a single thread the result, 

 after the threads are tied, is equivalent to that of real quad- 

 ruple ligation. By passing threads through part after- part 

 as shown in figure 44 a growth of any size may be ligated 

 into as many sections as is thought desirable to effect a per- 



Fig. 44 — Quadrisectional Ligation. 



feet strangulation of the integral mass. In order to still 

 further assure total obliteration of all nutrition a second 

 series may be inserted in the opposite direction either above 

 or below the fifst series. 



(For ligations of the rectum and vagina see page 446.) 



Cauterization. 



DEFINITION. — Cauterization is the burning or searing 

 Of tissues wi-th heated metals or chemical caustics. It is 

 called actual cautery when executed with a hot iron and po- 

 tential cautery when accomplished with chemical substances. 

 (Actual cauterization of the skin and underlying tissues for 

 the purpose of curing lameness is described under the name 

 of "firing." See page 112.) 



INDICATIONS.— The objects of cauterization are 

 numerous in veterinary surgery. Both actual and potential 

 may very frequently be brought into service to excellent ad- 



