CAUDAL MYECTOMY. 91 



Hon. If this has not been attained examine carefully and 

 sever any remaining bundles of muscle, and this not suffic- 

 ing repeat the operation as before at another point 5 or 6 

 cm. above or below the first, severing the muscle again. 

 Or if the depressor appears implicated, sever it in a similar 

 manner. In extreme cases the entire lateral half of the 

 caudal muscles, tendons and aponeurosis may be severed. 

 Apply an antiseptic pad to the wound and retain it by a 

 moderately firm bandage, which serves at once as an occlu- 

 sive dressing and effective hemostatic. Remove the band- 

 age after 24 hours. By this plan of operation it is not 

 intended to tie the tail to the side of the animal during the 

 time of healing but when bandaging it immediately after 

 the operation, it should be held away from the side toward 

 which it formerly curved so that the bandage would tend to 

 prevent the return of the organ to its former position. 



23. CAUDAL MYECTOMY. 

 Fig 6 AND Plate XV 



Objects. For the prevention of the gripping of the reins 

 by the tail. 



Instruments. Elastic ligature, straight bistoury, 

 tenacula, absorbent cotton, bandages. 



Technic. Confine the animal in lateral decubitis or in 

 stocks, cleanse and disinfect the parts and apply the elastic 

 ligature as close as possible to the root of the tail. Have 

 an assistant hold the tail upwards, i. e., dorsalwards, and 

 tightly stretched. Make an incision 15 to 20 cm. long, over 

 the middle of the inferior surface of each depressor longus 

 muscle, beginning close against the elastic ligature and ex- 

 tending toward the apex, severing at once the skin and 

 caudal fascia down to the muscle. L,et an assistant retract 

 the Hps of the incision with tenacuja while the operator 

 dissects the depressor longus muscle, DC, Plate XV, from 



