140 WOUND TREATMENT 



Every movement of the surgeon should be prompt and 

 precise. Indeed, by operating rapidly be shortens the 

 duration, and consequently the sum, of the pain, and 

 thus diminishes the anguish of a long and torturing 

 infliction on behalf of the patient. The maintenance of 

 his own self-possession will make him master of the 

 situation, and assure a neat, , artistic finish to his task, 

 with no unnecessary division of tissues, no mistaking of 

 locations, and generally with no betrayals of doubt and 

 hesitation or awkward and aimless manipulations, such 

 as mark the attempts of the tyro and the novice. 



The confidence and facility with which each move is 

 accomplished will not fail to impress favorably those 

 who are spectators of the operation, and to react fa- 

 vorably and profitably for the operator. The operative 

 function of veterinary surgery requires, on the part of 

 the man who practices it, a certain corporeal vigor, asso- 

 ciated with sufficient agility to be able effectually to over- 

 come the resistance of animals under torture, and coun- 

 teract the efforts and avoid the injuries they are always 

 so prompt and often so dexterous in inflicting upon 

 those who are causing them pain. The veterinary sur- 

 geon must be cool-blooded and patient, never losing his 

 presence of mind while directing the manipulations, 

 often so difficult and dangerous, which are necessitated at 

 his hands, especially when the large domestic animals are 

 under treatment. He must then — always, in fact — ^be 

 prepared for all difficulties and eventualities that may 

 arise, whether before, during, or after an operation, and 

 he must inspire confidence in his assistants by using full 

 precautions for their safety and for his own, in his de- 

 fensive dispositions against the dangers to which they 

 are exposed. 



It is especially as therapeutic measures that opera- 

 tions are necessitated in the treatment of diseases and 



