300 DISEASES OF THE BONES AND ARTICULATIONS. 



producing a tension of the ligaments which are located in front of it ; then 

 cut through them with a bistoury. Exarticulation is finished by separating 

 the other ligaments and the capsule of the joint ; then proceed exactly as 

 we do in ordinary amputation. 



Amputation of the tail is one form of exarticulation : This operation, 

 which is comparatively harmless, is sometimes required in cases of necrosis 

 of the bones of the tail after serious injuries to the soft parts or from frac- 

 ture of the caudal appendage. An amputation between two of the vertebrae 

 is much better than cutting through the bones. The operator must distin- 

 guish the slightly enlarged point (Fig. 68) where the articulation lies ; then 

 proceed by means of the " flap " or " round " operation, whichever is pre- 

 ferred. As the vessels are slight they can easily be stopped by means of a 

 thermo-cautery. The author generally uses the circular operation, cutting 

 posterior to the bony protuberances of the articulation. Pull the skin back, 

 cutting through the muscles and tendons just below the articulation ; then, 

 with the help of an assistant, pull up the tissues and cut between the carti- 

 laginous disk. In cases where there is much hemorrhage the artery may 

 be taken up by means of a catgut ligature. The edges of the skin are united 

 by an interrupted suture and an antiseptic dressing is applied, taking care 

 not to make it too tight. 



When the average period of unioD of fracture has passed remove 

 the dressing carefully and see that the fragments are united. If 

 we recognize any mobility in the fractured region, we then under- 

 stand that we have a slow, callous formation, and nothing else is 

 to be done but to renew the dressing as soon as possible, having 

 first rendered the parts antiseptic by means of sublimate soap and 

 water. Put on the bandage again and let it remain for two or 

 three weeks more. If we do not obtain a cure at the end of that 

 time we may conclude that we have a false joint (pseudoarthrosis). 



The methods pursued in man of introducing ivory pins into the 

 bone or screwing it together by means of clamps or resecting the 

 ends with a saw are hardly practicable in the dog. If, however, 

 we discover that there is any danger of the formation of a false 

 joint, we may irritate the ends of the wound by rubbing the broken 

 ends together and applying a dressing, giving the animal phosphate 

 of lime or phosphoric acid. 



Other diseases of the bones in the dog are of so slight importance 

 that the author has omitted them. 



