194 



VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



brachial fascia. It occupies the well-marked groove between 

 the external and middle flexors, which can be felt by press- 

 ing the finger tips along the postero-external aspect of the 

 forearm. The nerve is best reached in the middle third of 

 the forearm, although it can be easily found as far down as 

 the trapezium. The location to select in the above-men- 

 tioned groove, is a point midway between the olecranon and 

 the trapezium, determined by measurement. 



Second Step. — Disinfection of the Seat and Anaesthesia.— 

 The region is shaved, washed, immersed in mercuric chloride 



Fig. 107 — Position of Incision in Ulnar Neurotomy. 



solution 1-500, and then anaesthetized subcutaneously with 

 cocaine hydrochlorate five per cent. 



Third Step.— Dissection. — An incision is made through 

 the skin, one and a half inches long, which will expose the 

 thick underlying antebrachial fascia. Retractors are applied 

 to the wound, and the fascia incised along its whole course 

 with a probe-pointed bistoury, cutting upward and outward. 

 At this point, search is made for the external radial vein, 

 which should now lie along the course of the incision. If 

 this vein is not visible, the antibrachial fascia just divided is 

 dissected away along both edges, until it is brought into the 

 foreground. Once found, it is utilized as the land-mark in 

 the search for the nerve, which is always closely related to 



