INJURIES TO THE KNEE IN THE HORSE. 
543 
The operating table described on p. 22 of Dollar’s “Operative 
Technique” is almost indispensable for operation. Under any circum¬ 
stances, it facilitates the antiseptic precautions, and avoids the need for 
a straw bed, a fruitful source of wound infection. 
The instruments and materials required are—clipping machine, razor, 
scalpels, artery forceps, lion forceps, suture needles, “silkworm-gut” 
ligature, carbolic gauze sponges, iodoform gauze, pieces of freshly-boiled 
linen, absorbent wadding, tarlatan bandages, cotton bandages, plaster 
bandages, nail-brush, soap, boiled water and several vessels for holding 
it, 2| per cent, carbolic solution, 1 per cent, permanganate solution, 
Fig. 198. Fig. 199. Fig. 200. 
12j per cent, bisulphite of soda solution, sulphuric ether. All dressing 
materials must previously have been sterilised. 
All the instruments should be of metal and have metal handles. They 
should be boiled for at least twenty minutes, and be placed in sterilised, 
shallow, enamelled iron trays containing a little boiled carbolic solution. 
The operation is divided into four stages : 
1. Control of the animal and aseptic precautions. 
2. Excision of the scar. 
3. Suturing the operative wound. 
4. Adjustment of the antiseptic dressing and splint. 
1. A dressing saturated with 5 per cent, carbolic solution is applied to 
the seat of operation overnight. Next morning the animal is placed on 
the operating table and chloroformed. The limb intended for operation 
is freed, drawn forwards as far as possible, and fixed to the lower bar 
of the table by means of broad strips of webbing. To ensure the 
limb being fully extended another piece of webbing is passed round 
