370 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



the truss above described was adjusted and managed as men- 

 tioned. At the end of six weeks the recovery was complete. 



PREPARATION. — A long dieting process, beginning at 

 least ten days preceding the day of operating, is absolutely 

 essential. The abdomen must be empty, otherwise successful 

 results are impossible. The ration is gradually reduced for ' 

 four to six days, a laxative of oil of linseed is administered 

 and then only liquid food in limited amounts is allowed dur- 

 ing the three days immediately preceding the operation. The 

 patient is actually starved, in order to reduce the abdominal 

 tension. 



RESTRAINT. — Recumbent restraint and general anaes- 

 thesia is necessary. The hernia must be exposed uppermost, 

 and the anaesthesia should be profound. No matter how small 

 the hernia may be, local anaesthesia will not answer. 



ANTISEPSIS. — The sac and a liberal area surrounding 

 is clipped, shaved and washed with mercuric chloride before 

 the patient is cast. This may be done twenty-four hours in 

 advance of the operation. At the time of operating a good 

 washing with mercuric chloride followed by a bath of pure 

 alcohol, is advisable. The instruments and the sutures are 

 boiled and kept free from contamination while in use. The 

 sutures especially, must be absolutely aseptic. The hands' are 

 covered with rubber gloves, or in lieu of these, they are cov- 

 ered with common gloves while preparing the patient, and 

 then when the operation begins, disinfected in the usual man- 

 ner. 



INSTRUMENTS.— 

 i.v Scalpel. 



2. Dissecting forceps. 



3. Artery forceps, a number. 



4. Abundance of strong braided silk. 



5. Abundance of strong catgut. 



6. Tenacula. 



TECHNIQUE.— First Step.— Incision of the Sac— The 

 incision is made parallel to the long axis of the body, although 

 in some cases the direction of the blood vessels may be re- 

 spected, by changing the course to an a-ngle. As to length it 

 should overlap the boundary of the orifice at each end. The 

 incision is made slowly in order to avoid wounding the vis- 

 cera, which too frequently are found adhered to the inner 

 wall. As the knife approaches the inner wall the incision is 

 bailed bloodless so that the entrance into the sac may be made 

 without injury to adhered omentum or intestines. 



Second Step. — Breaking Down the Adhesions, Replacing 



