466 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



The disease is very frequently complicated with pyaemic 

 arthritis and other afflictions of navel origin whose causative 

 microbes are offorded a free portal of entrance, while the 

 pervious condition persists. 



Various methods of treatment have been recommended, 

 and among those in vogue are: (i) Antiseptic washings of 

 the umbilical region to prevent microbian invasion as the 

 urachus undergoes spontaneous closure. (2) Daily irriga- 

 tions of the urachus with antiseptics and astringents. (3) 

 Local antisepsis and frequent catheterization. (4) Irriga- 

 tion of the urachus followed by the introduction of caustics 

 into the orifice. (5) Actual cautery of the orifice following 

 antiseptic irrigation. (6) Closure by ligation after having 

 thoroughly irrigated the urachus with strong antiseptics. 



The latter, besides being the author's choice, seems to 

 be the most popular procedure among the experienced prac- 

 titioners in the great breeding districts of the Mississippi 

 Valley. 



Pervious urachus would be a>rare affection if the um- 

 bilical cord of animals were given proper attention at birth. 

 A clean bed, ligation of the cord with an aseptic ligature and 

 thorough antisepsis of the navel until it has healed would not 

 only prevent many of the cases of pervious urachus but would 

 also almost entirely eliminate the infections of navel origin. 



TECHNIQUE.— The patient is placed in the dorsal re- 

 cumbent position and the umbilical region clipped, shaved 

 and thoroughly washed with mercuric chloride 1-500. Al- 

 though the cleaning up of the umbilical region is somewhat 

 difficult on account of the loose, delicate and wrinkled con- 

 dition of the skin, and the opposition of the patient; the ob- 

 stacle must not be made an excuse for perfunctory disin- 

 fection. The operation must start with a clean field, and with 

 a well secured patient. 



The urachal channel is first patiently irrigated with pure 

 hydrogen peroxide by means of a long-piped syringe (ample 

 time being allowed for each syringeful of the injected liquid 

 to foam from the orifice) and then with mercuric chloride 

 solution 1-1000 until good disinfection is assured. The hy- 

 drogen peroxide may be injected into the bladder with im- 

 punity while the latter, on account of its toxicity, should be 

 used more prudently. 



The protruding urachus is then drawn up with tumor 

 forceps or with a piece of suture passed through its end, and 

 a ligature fixed to its base as follows : A needle armed with 

 two strands of strong braided silk is passed through the loose 

 skin behind the urachus at the level of the abdominal sur- 



