100 WOUND TREATMENT 



the wprk;i Eespiratory anestiiesia is not applicable be- 

 cause the, operation is of too long duratioji. 



For wounds on the legs we have found the casting har- 

 ness better than the standing position because the legs 

 are never well immobilized standing, and the surgeon 

 is forced into a very uiieotaf ortablebending position, par- 

 ticularly if the wound is a;bout or below the knees or 

 hoeks. 



In every form of recumbent restraint, some, care must 

 always be exercised in letting, the. patient ahp withbut 

 inflicting violence to the sutured wounds/. Tte forcible 

 movements of the legs may stretch a suturd^:fwound wide 

 opeh by tearing either the sutures or the i§kin in which 

 they are inserted. In taking from the operating table 

 a horse that has just been sutured about the buttock, or 

 which has been operated for shoe boil, we always, keep 

 the' foot of the affected leg in the hopple until.it lands 

 safely to the floor and supports weight. Otherwise a 

 swing might do much harm. For wounds of the legs 

 treated in the casting harness ample protection, can al- 

 ways be given against such injury by using plenty of 

 batid'aging material, and by helping the patient promptly 

 tc) its feet without unnecessary struggles.- 

 ■ 2. Disinfection.— We always try to beginrthis part of 

 the treatment before securing, the animal, by giving the 

 body: a thorough cleaning. Dried mud on the legs, 

 feathers, and abdomen must always be curried and 

 btushed off. Otherwise a veritable halo of dust will 

 cloud ithe whole atmosphere when the. patietit is strug- 

 gling during the operation.; A good brushing and .then 

 a! wiping of the wh6le body with a wet to^jgl are essen- 

 tial. A preoperative bath where thereiaife accomtno- 

 dations f or ^uch treatment would of eours.^^fee better, but 

 as animal bathrooms are not usually available,! thte above 

 method of eleaniiig' niusti answer the putpose. 



