THE CAUTERY AND THE SETON. 
30 4 
If it is necessary to pass a seton through the dewlap, or the 
integument covering the brisket of an ox, an assistant must be 
placed at the left side of the animal, opposite to the shoulder. 
He must seize the left horn with his left hand, while with the 
right hand he seizes the muzzle, introducing the thumb into one 
nostril, and the two fore-fingers into the other ; and by these 
means depressing the head of the animal, and bringing it towards 
the left side. In order to introduce a seton into the inside of 
the thighs, the same method must be pursued as for the horse, 
the mule, or the ass. 
Hogs and dogs must be laid on the right side, when it is ne- 
cessary to pass a seton in the integument at the point of the 
breast, or at the poll. Horses or beasts are sometimes met with 
so irritable or vicious, that, in order to insert a seton in the re- 
quisite part, it is necessary to cast them, or at least to place them 
in a trevice. Oxen are sometimes attached to a carriage, or 
they are fixed by the horses to an upright post or to a tree. 
Before passing a seton, it is requisite to clip the hair at the 
points at which it is to be introduced and brought out. 
In order to pass a seton through the dewlap or over the brisket, 
the left fore-leg must be lifted by an assistant ; a fold must then 
be made in the skin by means of the thumb and fore-finger of the 
left hand, superior to and in the centre of the brisket, if it is de- 
signed to insert one seton only ; but a little on one side, if it is 
intended that two shall be inserted. The fold of the dewlap is 
then pierced by the point of a bistoury, from within outwards. 
The second incision, for the escape of the needle, is to be prac- 
tised eight or ten inches posteriorly to the first. Some veterina- 
rians, when they are about to insert this kind of seton, make but 
one incision with the bistoury, and accomplish the other by means 
of the needle ; but this renders the operation somewhat more 
difficult, especially if the point of the seton needle is not some- 
what sharp ; and if the upper part of the needle is not larger 
than the tape, the pus which will be secreted will have some dif- 
ficulty in escaping. These setons are never to be made across the 
brisket or dewlap, but in a direction from before backwards. 
The incisions being made, the needle is introduced by the 
right hand into the superior orifice, its convexity being towards 
the muscular substance beneath ; the left hand is at the same 
time employed, in order to direct the point of the needle between 
the skin and the muscles to the other incision. As soon as the 
needle has been drawn through the incision, the tape is to be 
withdrawn from its eye. A knot is then tied at each end of the 
tape, or a bit of stick is tied at the end, by which means the animal 
will be unable to withdraw or tear out the seton, which he will 
