190 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



most unsightly appearance and detract considerably 

 from its value. 



Experience teaches that simple suturing of the 

 torn parts is most unsatisfactory, since the parts 

 do, not as a rule heal properly, the stitches tearing 

 out and the edges of the wound again separating. 

 By using the following technic, however, uniformly 

 good results are obtained to the satisfaction of the 

 owner and surgeon : 



Place the patient in the abdominal position and 

 induce general anesthesia, having the following in- 

 struments, dressings, and so on ready for use : A 

 small scalpel, dressing forceps, artery forceps, 

 needles and fine silk sutures, iodized collodion, ether, 

 swabs, and gauze. 



Technic. — The instruments, needles, sutures, swabs, 

 and gauze are sterilized by boiling and the ear shaved 

 and carefully disinfected in the usual manner. The 

 ear is then pulled through a slit in the gauze so as to 

 prevent it coming in contact with the head, or neck 

 during the operation. 



After thoroughly disinfecting his hands, the oper- 

 ator then takes the scalpel and dissects the skin 

 away from the cartilage for about one eighth of an 

 inch on both sides of the ear and on either side of 

 the wound. The' strips of cartilage thus freed from 

 the skin are then excised, hemorrhage controlled, 

 and the edges of the wound on both sides united 

 with closely placed interrupted sutures. The wound 

 is then swabbed with ether, which is allowed to 

 evaporate, and sealed with the iodized collodion. 

 Healing occurs by first intention and the sutures are 

 removed in six days. 



Operation for Harelip 



Place the animal in the abdominal position and 

 induce general anesthesia with H-M-C and chloroform. 



