2o6 SUBCUTANEOUS AMPUTATION. 



49. SUBCUTANEOUS AMPUTATION OF ANTERIOR LIMES. 



Objects. Amputation of the anterior limbs is very 

 frequently called for in obstetric practice especially in the 

 mare, chiefly in cases of transverse presentation with all 

 four feet presenting and the head retained where it may be 

 impossible to safely correct the deviation ; in cases of wry 

 neck in the foal in the anterior presentation, dorso-sacral 

 position, when it is impossible to correct the deviation of 

 the head, or in any case in the mare or cow where deviation 

 of the head cannot be corrected or is not so readily over- 

 come as is the amputation of the limb. 



Technic. Our larger, herbivorous animals being devoid 

 of a clavicle, the anterior limb is attached to the thorax by 

 means of the .skin and muscles only and is therefore compar- 

 atively easily amputated. Attach a cord to the pastern of the 

 limb, the shoulder of which lies most exposed or is most 

 readily reached and have one or two assistants exert traction 

 on it and draw it out as far as possible with safety to the 

 mother. Insert one hand armed with the hooked embry- 

 otomy knife up to the top of the scapula or as nearly thereto 

 as can be reached, the knife being well guarded in the palm 

 of the hand which rests against the limb of the fetus ; press 

 the knife into the skin and subcutaneous tissues and drawing 

 the hand downward slit them freely and deeply from the top 

 of the scapula down to the pastern. I/ay aside the knife and 

 force the fingers between the skin and subjacent tissues of 

 the limb and while the assistant maintains gentle traction, 

 separate the skin upward by forcing the hand or the ball of 

 the thumb through the loose connective tissue until the 

 ■ upper region of the scapula is reached. The separation of 

 the skin from the subjacent parts may require at certain 

 points, like the olecranon or carpus, the aid of the chisel 

 or knife to divide firm bands of connective tissue. This 

 separation of the skin from the subjacent parts has removed 

 the chief source of resistance to the tearing of the limb 



