DISEASES OF THE TAIL. 
497 
one of the caudal joints. The rubber cord is then cautiously relaxed, 
any bleeding vessels are picked up and ligatured, the wound is thoroughly 
cleansed, and the two flaps are carefully brought into contact. Should 
the initial incisions have been skilfully made, the flaps will cover the 
stump without difficulty, and without being either tightly stretched 01 
inclosing too large a cavity. It is best to form the flaps rather longei 
than absolutely necessary in the first instance, as they can afterwaids 
be easily reduced with scissors or the knife. The edges are then 
brought into exact contact with closely inserted silk sutures, and should 
any cavity remain, a couple of “ tension sutures (see Dollar s Oper¬ 
ative Technique,” p. 137) are used to obliterate it. The several stages 
of the operation are well shown in the foregoing illustrations (figs. 185 
to 188). 
X.—NECROSIS OF THE LUMBO-DORSAL FASCIA. 
The lumbo-dorsal fascia (fascia lumbo-dorsalis) lies just beneath the 
panniculus in the region of the back, and covers the dorsal extensors 
like a sheath. Its superficial portion arises from the outer angle of the 
ilium, becomes attached to the superior spinous piocesses of the lumbar 
and dorsal vertebra and to the ligamentum nuchge, is continued back¬ 
ward in the fascia of the abdominal muscles, and forward in the direction 
of the ligamentum nucha?, to become attached to the scapular fascia. 
Its deep portion is confined to the lumbar region. It connects the tians- 
verse processes of the lumbar vertebrae to one another, and to the outer 
angle of the ilium. The dorsal fascia serves as a point of attachment to 
various muscles, and forms the medium of connection between the 
extensors of the back and the muscles of the hindquarter. It is best 
developed in horses. 
Suppuration in the skin of the back, produced by pressure, sometimes 
causes necrosis of the dorsal fascia \ external mjuiies and cellulitis may 
also produce it. The great strength of this fascia renders dissection of 
necrotic parts tedious, whilst new portions aie continually attacked, and 
die on account of progressive necrosis. Sooner or later, therefore, 
large tracts are destroyed. Moller has repeatedly seen this in horses ; 
cases last for weeks, and give the greatest difficulty in treatment. 
Recovery is quickest after surgical removal of the diseased portion; pus 
formation is checked by continuous irrigation with disinfectants. Schmidt 
saw a foal in which the fascia was the seat of purulent necrosis extending 
from the withers to the pelvis. On incision,'necrotic pieces of tissue 
and ill-smelling pus were discharged. Although the ribs could be felt 
on introducing the finger, recovery occurred in six weeks by using 
carbolic lotion, but few cases prove so amenable to treatment. 
v.s. 
K K 
