518 OPERATIONS ON THE CIECULATOEY SYSTEM. 



the pimctiires, the scarifications, the ventouses, or cupping, and 

 the leeching, of regular current practice. 



(a) Punctures and Scarifications. — These are methods of 

 producing small superficial wounds through the skin and the sub- 

 cutaneous cellular tissue, to obtaia the effect of a local bleeding, 

 or the escape of any other fluid contained in the subcutaneous 

 substance. They are indicated against local swellings and serious 

 effusions, or cedema of the cellular tissue. They can be appUed 

 upon any part of the body, and though they take effect in the 

 escape of bat small quantities of fluid, their action may be stimu- 

 lated by additional local appUcations, such as warm poultices, 

 warm water fomentations, or dry, stimulating frictions. 



Punctures, however, are principally effective when employed 

 to overcome cedematous swellings of the extremities, and of the 

 genital organs, while scarifications are prescribed with better ad- 

 vantage to obtain the resolution of cold or chronic sweUings, or 

 to control the Inflammatory process in cases in which the tissues 

 are largely swoUen and threatened with gangrene. 



Both the bistoury and the lancet, and, in rare instances, the 

 fleam, are used in ftdfiUing these indications. 



In making punctures the skin and cellular tissue are pricked 

 or pierced to the depth required, with the bistoury or lancet, by 

 rapid thrusts distributed over the entu-e surface of the sweUing, 

 and when the fleam is used it is manipulated precisely as when 

 used in bleeding, though, of course, with quick repetitions. 



(6) Scarifications may be defined as rather small incisions, made 

 with a convex bistoury, with which the skin is cut from without 

 inward, in parallel series, but which, in some instances, when an 

 increased effect is desired, are doubled by a second series crossing 

 the first at an angle. 



(c) Cu2}pinc/.—-ThiB mode of obtaining capillary bleeding is 

 very seldom employed in veterinary practice. The cups are, how- 

 ever, indicated in subcutaneous infiammations, accompanied with 

 sweUings, and resulting from blows, contusions, kicks, and other 

 and similar traumatic causes, and are often preferable to bHsters. 

 They are recommended in arthritis, ostitis, and even in internal 

 phlegmasia. They render valuable aid in emptying some forms 

 of abscesses, and are credited with the possession of power to 

 arrest or prevent the absorption of virus introduced into wounds 

 or deposited on their surface. 



