TRIFACIAL NEUROTOMY. 49 



with continuous sutures. Place the square piece of muslin 

 centrally over the wound and fix it securely to the skin by 

 means of strong sutures at each corner, in order to protect it 

 while the other nerve is being cut. Turn the animal to the 

 opposite side and repeat the operation on the other nerve 

 except the application of the square piece of muslin which 

 is here unnecessary. As soon as the animal stands, remove 

 the protective piece of muslin from the first wound, disinfect 

 both wounds, dust them over with iodoform and tannin or 

 cover with wound gelatine and leave undisturbed to heal by 

 primary union. Avoid halter, bridle or other fixtures which 

 might injure the wounds after the operation. 



Dangers. The chief danger in the operation is from i^i- 

 fection, which sets up a severe neuritis in the proximal end 

 of the nerve, aggravates the symptoms and causes much 

 suffering. In order to prevent infection the aseptic precau- 

 tions need be unusually strict in every detail and the anaes- 

 thesia profound. Carefully avoid wounding the neighbor- 

 ing vessels and control completely any hemorrhage that 

 occurs in order to avoid a heniatome in the wound, which 

 would invite infection. 



Literature. Involuntary twitching of the head relieved 

 by trifacial neurectomy. W. L,. Williams, Jour. Comp. 

 Med. and V. A., vol. XVIII, p. 426. Involuntary shaking 

 of the head and its treatment by trifacial neurectomy, do. 

 Am. Vet. Rev., vol. XXIII, p. 321 and CEJst. Monatsch. 

 Thierheilkunde, Bd. XXIV, s. 211. 



