152 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



tation throughout the whole length. The mattress suture 

 or the crucial, recommended for digital neurotomy, may also 

 be applied with advantage. 



Sixth Step. — Applying the Dressings and Wound Treat- 

 ment. — Before the permanent surgical dressings are applied 

 the whole region is rinsed liberally with the mercuric chlor- 

 ide solution to rid the surface of all blood or other attached 

 particles. Then a large antiseptic-soaked piece of cotton is 

 bound to the wounds With an appropriate bandage. This 

 dressing is removed at the end of twenty-four hours and sub- 

 stituted by a dry antiseptic powder, — boric acid or iodoform, 

 — which is renewed every day without molesting the wound 



Fig. 94 — Correct Method of Suturing Neurotomy Incision. 



with washes of any sort whatever. At the end of six or 

 seven days the sutures are removed, but the wound is sub- 

 mitted to the same treatment during ihe subsequent week, 

 after which it will be found well healed. 



AFTER-CARE. — The after-care of horses submitted to 

 this neurotomy is special, owing to the grave danger of dis- 

 aster to the feet from various causes. The feet of the neu- 

 rotomized horse must be kept under a constant surveillance. 

 They must not be submitted to the same insults as the 

 healthy feet. Protection against wounds, bruises, nail-pricks, 

 corns and cracks must not be omitted. Although these do 

 not always develop into serious conditions if promptly 



