34 ANIMAL OASTEATION, 



a very simple one. Tlie testicle being exposed, as 

 in all tlie other methods, the chain of the instrument 

 is so placed around the cord that the pressure takes 

 place upon the greater mass of tissue, in order that 

 it may continue the longer ; which being done, the 

 lever of the instrument is brought into action, and 

 the constriction caused by the chain slowly kept up 

 until the definite division of the tissue is accom- 

 plished. The essential condition of success in the 

 operation, having in view the desired hemostatic 

 effect, is to act slowly. According to Prof. Bouley, 

 an interval of several seconds should be suffered to 

 elapse after each rotation of the wheel which moves 

 the chain. If the tissues are divided too rapidly, 

 the section of the artery is apt to be too clean, and 

 a hemorrhage is likely to be the result. This objec- 

 tion, however, though made by one of the highest 

 authorities in veterinary surgery, does not seem to be 

 justified by the results obtained by American opera- 

 tors, most of whom both recommend and practice its 

 execution as rapidly as possible ; and according to 

 their own statements a serious hemorrhage is seldom 

 encountered. The fact that it has been observed in 

 any case, however, confirms the wisdom of the recom- 

 mendation of Prof. Bouley, and as most of our Ameri- 

 can confreres prefer the operation with the animal in 

 the standing posture, the reason of their neglect of 

 the prudent and more truly surgical process can be 

 readily appreciated. To avoid the hemorrhage Dr. 

 House invented a clamp which he applied upon the 

 (jord previous to the amputation with the ecraseur 



