360 operations on the digestive apparatus. 



Suture. 



It is only by suture that the attempt can be successfully 

 made. Peuch, Toussaint and Zundel advise the throwing of the 

 horse, but we prefer the standing position for the operation. 

 The iustruments necessary are strong needles for metallic sutures, 

 and soft, pUable lead wire. We prefer this kind of suture as being 

 less Uable to cut through the muscular structure of the organ 

 and having less tendency to give way. Having carefully washed 

 the surfaces of the Ungual wound, we apply an interrupted 

 suture, varying the number of stitches, according to the extent of 

 the laceration, and prefer the interrupted to the continued suture 

 for the reason that if one stitch fails to hold, it can be easily re- 

 placed by another. The important point is to secure a thorough 

 hold for each stitch, or in other words, to involve a good portion 

 of the tongue in the stitch on each edge of the wound. 



Wounds of the frsenum need no special treatment, but there is 

 an indication which by its application greatly facilitates, though 



indirectly, the cicatrising process of 

 the two parts. It consists in placing 

 the tongue in a muslin suspensory, 

 having the shape of the free portion 

 of the tongue, and sewed together 

 on a part of their circumference, leav- 

 ing an opening for the organ to enter. 

 This suspensory is kept in place by 

 two strings attached to the halter on 

 Fig. 361.— Tongue Suspensory. each side of the cheeks. The use of 



this easily made apphance has given 

 us great satisfaction, not only in keeping the tongue in the mouth, 

 but also in limiting the movements of the organ, and preventing 

 the giving way of stitches. The suspensory is to be taken off 

 two or three times a day, and washed, or changed for another, 

 but tnust be kept in place as long as this condition of the patient 

 requires it. The mouth is to be kept clean by antiseptic astrin- 

 gents and cooling gargles, by means of a syringe or an irrigator. 

 The use of peroxide of hydrogen has given us excellent results in 

 these cases. Nocard recommends the application of a muzzle 

 upon the patient's nose, to prevent the prehension of fibrous 

 food, keeping the mouth closed, and restricting the movements of 



