90 SUBCUTANEOUS CAUDAL MYOTOMY. 



what has now become the convex side and at the lower margin 

 of the levator and just above w, Fig. 6, insert the tenotome at 

 the most prominent part of curvation, the incision being paral- 

 lel with the muscular fibers, and push the instrument entirely 

 through the muscle to the vertebra, then turning the cutting 

 edge upwards, at the same time advancing the point toward 

 the median line, sever the entire muscle. The superior 

 lateral caudal artery, s, Fig. 6, bleeds profusely if severed, 

 and wounding of it may usually be avoided by withdrawing 

 the tenotome a trifle in passing that point. Wounding the 



Fig 6. 

 Transverse section of the tail. «, caudal vertebra ; c, sacro- 

 coccjgeus lateralis muscle ; e, sacro coccygeus superior ; f, 

 depressor longus and brevis muscles (sacro-coccygeus infer- 

 ior) ; z, intertransvensales muscles ; a, coccygeal artery ; j, sa- 

 pero-lateral coccygeal artery ; /, infero-lateral coccygeal ar- 

 tery ; V, caudal veins (dorsal, ventral, lateral) ; sch, caudal 

 fascia ; h, skin, 



skin over the muscular incision is avoided by placing 

 the thumb of the left hand over the line of incision so 

 the knife will be recognized as soon as the muscle and cau- 

 dal fascia are cut through. Remove the knife in the same 

 manner as introduced. Release the horse and have him 

 trotted again. If the operation is sufficient, the tail should curve 

 in about the sa7ne degree as before, but in the opposite direc- 



