The Extremities 317 



AMPUTATION. 



Amputation of the leg is not very often practiced on the dog, 

 for the reason that few people care to see their animals going about 

 in a crippled condition, nevertheless occasions sometimes arise, 

 when, either on account of value for breeding purposes or because 

 of sentimental considerations, the practitioner is called upon to 

 undertake the operation. The dog seems to be but little incom- 

 moded by the loss of one leg, for he soon learns to run about 

 fairly well with the remaining three, and particularly is this true 

 when the lesion has occurred in the hind parts. Even when both 

 fore-legs are missing he manages to progress by hopping on the 

 hind-legs after the manner of the kangaroo. Furthermore, the 

 wearing of an artificial support is perfectly feasible, and several 

 cases of successful substitution have been recorded. A simple prop 

 can be fashioned out of some light wood, around the upper end 

 of which a strip of leather is attached to form a socket to snugly fit 

 the stump of the member. The contrivance is held in place by 

 means of a light leather harness reaching to the joint immediately 

 above. Or if something more elaborate is desired the skill and 

 experience of the artificial limb manufacturer may be sought. 



The lesions for which amputation is indicated are severe frac- 

 tures, and malignant growths and gangrene of the extremities. 



The best way to perform the operation is as follows: The 

 animal being hoppled and under general anesthesia and the parts 

 freed of hair and thoroughly cleansed, a tourniquet is first applied 

 above the area of the operation. A circular or wedge-shaped in- 

 cision is made through the skin around the leg, a little distance 

 below where the bone is to be divided. In order to provide 

 for a flap to cover the extremity of the bone, the skin must then 

 be retracted by gently drawing it towards the root of the member. 

 Some slight dissection of the subcutaneous connective tissue may 

 be necessary to properly free the skin. At the level of the retracted 

 skin the muscles, tendons, and vessels are next severed to the bone. 

 The latter is then divided with a saw. The amputated portion 

 being removed, the vessels are sought for, clamped with artery 

 forceps, and ligated with silk. All hemorrhage being stilled, the 

 parts are irrigated with hot sterilized water, and the skin is gathered 

 together with a subcuticular suture, the ends of the latter being 



