CAUDAL MYOTOMY. 



305 



Fig. 333.— Elevating the Tail with PuUeys. 



also has the advantage of equalizing the strain on the hair. In 

 respect to the amount of weight to be employed in this process, 

 much caution must be exercised in order to avoid excess. An 

 error here might cause the loosening and loss of the hair, with 

 the troublesome consequences of greatly interfering with the final 

 result at the cost also of much suffering to the horse. The cord 

 should run freely through the pulley and be of sufficient strength 

 to allow the animal to he down if disposed to do so. It wUl be a 

 prudent precaution to accustom the animal to the use of the pul- 

 leys by placing them on him for a few hours daily for a short pe- 

 riod in anticipation of the operation. It will be necessary — as we 

 before remarked — for the horse, after that, to remain in the pul- 

 leys not less than two, and possibly three or four weeks, although 

 after a short time he may be relieved for the purpose of taking 

 proper exercise. The Bartlet's apparatus recommended by G. 

 Fleming may also give very good results (Fig. 324). 



Caudal myotomy is an operation, which, though simple in it- 

 self, may be followed by numerous and, at times, severe compli- 

 cations. Out of one hundred and forty-one animals operated 

 upon by Hering, four died from either gangrene, severe petechial 

 fever or suppurative infection. Among the most common acci- 

 dents met with are the following : 



