292 



VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



two ropes fastened on the top railing of the right side. The 

 ropes drop to the ground and when the animal is driven 

 into the stocks and the head has been fixed between the 

 hinged railings they are brought around the body one at the 

 chest and one at the flank. The front rope passes around the 

 body just below the elbow and the hindermost one passes 

 upward in front of the stifle and then backwards behind 

 the external angle of the ilium. Both are tied with loop 

 knots at the point of origin, thus fixing the patient against 

 the right wall of the stocks. The left side has a wide gap 

 between the railings so as not to -obstruct free access to the 

 seat of operation. A hinged door that will prevent the 

 animal from jumping through the gap before being tied, and 



Fig. 144 — Posture for Spaying. The Recumbent Position. 



which can be quickly dropped as soon as the head is safely 

 trapped, is an excellent improvement, although a removable 

 railing will answer. The, author has found it entirely practical 

 to build the left side of the stock only two and a half feet 

 high and then keep the animals from jumping over by las- 

 soing and then dragging them to the front. This leaves the 

 entire side of the animal exposed and gives the surgeon 

 much m'ore freedom. 



The recumbent position with ropes is the only recourse 

 when the operations must be performed in the open prairie, 

 and may also be' adopted when the number of animals to 

 be operated upon is too small to warrant the construction 

 ■ of stocks. The method most suitable is to simply fix the 

 two fore feet and the two hind ones together, each with 



