650 CONSIGNMENT OF SI Civ CATTLE TO THE BUTCHER. 
hand was then passed into the wound from the left to the right 
side, through the first, second, and as far as possible into the third 
stomach ; being as near as I could guess half through its hard- 
ened contents. The edges of the wound were next cleaned, and the 
ragged portions removed. The ends of the sutures were loosened 
one after another, and passed through the opposite sides of the 
wound, each of them held by an assistant, until as many as were 
necessary for bringing the edges of the wound properly together 
were inserted: the remainder are to be removed, and the sutures 
firmly tied, including in their hold the stomach, muscles, and in- 
tegument, by which the incision into the stomach is closed, and 
at the same time firmly attached to the parts, entirely preventing 
any of the contents from being afterwards ejected into the cavity 
of the abdomen. An adhesive plaister is next to be placed with 
a bandage over the wound. 
The future treatment must depend entirely on circumstances. 
In the present case, purging commenced on the next day. She 
had gruel and tonics. The wound healed. She was kept, and 
had calves, and was disposed of at the end of three years to 
the butcher, fat. 
It is necessary to observe that the wound does not all heal by 
the first intention, part of it remaining open sometimes for a con- 
siderable period, respiration causing a quantity of the fluid con- 
tents to be ejected, and constantly to run down the side. This 
can be obviated by the application of a firing-iron, adapted to 
the shape and size of the wound, introduced at a red heat, so 
as to destroy the cicatrized edges: when it is again examined, it 
will be found considerably lessened. Two or three applications 
are sometimes necessary, after which the remaining opening can 
be finally closed by the budding-iron. 
In selecting cases for operation it is not necessary to put the 
animal to the trouble, nor for the practitioner to lose his time, by 
passing the probang, examination by the side being quite suffi- 
cient at all times. If the stomach is inflated by gas, the animal 
will be restive, and pressure will give considerable pain, the 
stomach immediately regaining its form on the hand being with- 
drawn ; whereas, in distention with solid food, the pit that is 
made by pressure with the fist will be found to continue in the 
stomach for a considerable time after the muscles and integu- 
ments have resumed their natural form. If the case has been of 
a few days’ standing, it will also be found that the parts, on being 
pressed in, will adhere to the external coat of the stomach for a 
few seconds. 
Very little dependence can be placed on clysters. In cattle prac- 
tice (unless for the purpose of nutrition or fomentation^ I con- 
