AMPUTATIONS. 275 



of late not only assumed a place among the operations of fashion, 

 but has found favor from its alleged tendency to improve the 

 quantity and quality of milk, and of the flesh yielded by animals 

 subjected to it. It is in relation to this hypothesis that Gourdon 

 considers it as " a great progress in the raising of homed cattle, 

 and which, on account of the benefits that may be derived from 

 it, is perfectly justifiable." The operation is comparatively a sim- 

 ple one, but nevertheless involves special considerations, varying 

 according to the species of the animal. 



1st. In Bovines. — If only the free extremity of the organ is 

 to be cut off, it is done vdth the saw carried rapidly through the 

 homy structure, the animal, of course, being properly secured. 

 But occasionally, especially ia cases of fracture, the section is to 

 be made near the base, or the middle of the horn, and soft and 

 sensitive tissues are also involved. The amputation must then be 

 made below the fracture with a sharp saw, applied perpendicularly 

 to the long axis of the hom, and completed as rapidly as possible. 

 The operation will be accompanied by some hemorrhage, but 

 not sufScient, usually, to require the apphcation of severe hemo- 

 statics. The wound is dressed with pads of absorbent cotton, 

 or of carbolized or antiseptic oakum, retained by compresses or 

 the Maltese cross bandage. Possible collections of pus must be 

 watched for, and the sinuses should be carefully cleaned by injec- 

 tions. 



The dressings are renewed as often as the indications require, 

 and continued until the granulations have closed the cavities of 

 the sinuses, and the suppuration has almost entirely subsided. 

 The application of a permanent dressing in the form of a pitch 

 plaster is recommended by Gourdon. It need not be removed, 

 like the ordinary dressing, and under some circumstances is of 

 great advantage. 



Among the probable accidents attendant upon this operation, 

 there are four which require mention: 



(a) Hemorrhages, more or less serious, always occur after 

 the section of the horn, and of its bony support. UsuaUy, it is 

 sufficiently arrested by the dressing alone, but there are tunes 

 when the apphcation of the actual cautery becomes necessary to 



subdue it. 



(b) Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the smuses may 

 also f oUow. In its ordinary manifestation it is not serious, and is 



