STAPHYLOTOMY. 51 



9. STAPHYLOTOMY. 



Object. An operation devised by Dr. M. H. McKillip 

 for making a manual exploration of the Eustachian tubes, 

 guttural pouches, larynx, pharynx and posterior nares ; and 

 for operations upon these structures. The form and extent 

 of the soft palate of the horse is such as to render it ex- 

 tremely difficult to make a manual exploration of the parts 

 above and behind it, and impossible to make a visual ex- 

 amination except with the aid of the expensive and compli- 

 cated rhino-laryngoscope, which only aids in diagnosis while 

 staphylotomy combines with this operative advantages, per- 

 mitting the free introduction of the hand into the laryngo- 

 pharyngeal region. 



Instruments. Mouth speculum, short curved probe 

 pointed bistoury with a ring to fit the middle finger. 



Technic. Cast the patient or secure on the operating 

 table in lateral recumbency and turn the nose upward. 

 Adjust the mouth speculum and open the mouth as wide as 

 possible ; draw the tongue well out with the left hand while 

 the right carrying the knife on the middle finger is passed 

 carefully through the fauces until it hooks over the posterior 

 border of the soft palate. The knife is then gently drawn 

 forward making an incision along the median line of the 

 soft palate from its posterior, free border to its attachment 

 on the palatine bone. The hand is then withdrawn and the 

 speculum removed for a few minutes to permit the patient to 

 rid its pharynx of any blood clots or mucus that may have 

 accumulated. Readjusting the speculum as before, the 

 right hand is again passed through the faiices and now that 

 the palate is divided a digital exploration may perfectly re- 

 veal the presence of any abnormality in the region. 



