374 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



simply dust the region with boric acid and leave the wound 

 exposed. Subcutaneous infection, which is difficult to pre- 

 vent, is usually harmless. The buried sutures are not re- 

 moved but the cutaneous ones are removed in eight days or 

 as soon as they become loosened. 



SEQUELiE. — i. Peritonitis following the operation is 

 due to infection with sutures, hands or instruments, — seldom 

 to post-operative infection. Its appearance is ushered in by 

 fever, malaise, etc., three to five days after the operation was 

 performed. The treatment should consist chiefly of antisep- 

 tic irrigations of the subcutaneous cavity, in fear the hot-bed 

 of the infection is located therein. Internal administration 

 of quinine is also helpful. 



2. Recurrence of the Hernia. — The expected healing of 

 the orifice may fail to occur. After the sutures have absorbed 

 it may reopen and allow the intestines to again descend. 



