424 
H. A. SPENCER. 
be brought through the incision in the skin for drainage. 
The skin was then stitched in like manner, the spray removed, 
wound dried, and spread over with an abundance of dry 
boracic-acid, and covered with a large wad of bichloride 
gauze and then a piece of absorbent cotton, and, lastly, sev¬ 
eral wraps of wide bandage to keep the dressing in place. 
The anesthetic was removed, and a few whiffs of ammonia 
given, when she slowly revived, quite weak. A small dose of 
ammonia aromatica was given when she vomited, after which 
she retained a little diluted brandy, and manifested longing 
for her puppy, which we placed by her in the basket. Dis¬ 
tributing bottles of hot water around her, the owner placed 
the basket in his cart and started home, stopping at all avail¬ 
able places to replenish the hot water supply. The treatment 
advised was tinct. arnica in drachm doses every four hours, 
which was persisted in until she was out of danger. Her 
regimen was milk and lime water until the fifth day, when she 
was permitted to lap a little bouillon. 
The second day the owner telephoned for permission to 
apply ice poultices over the bandages, which we assented to. 
This he continued night and day for four days, when his curi- 
osity got the best of him, and he removed the dressings ; and 
with the exception of some considerable serum on the gauze, 
the wound was clean and healthy, and six of the stitches had 
healed. Not being prepared to dress the wound as we had 
done, Mr. Hughes contented himself with keeping it clean 
and spraying with peroxide of hydrogen three times daily. 
Eighteen days later he brought the bitch to San Jose, and the 
wound was completely healed ; she was as playful as a puppy. 
While gratified with the result of the operation, I am fully 
aware that much of the success was due to the careful and 
intelligent nursing she received. I might have attributed 
the favorable termination to good fortune had I not operated 
on a very large ventral hernia in a three-year-old colt, follow¬ 
ing the same antiseptic precautions, with most flattering re¬ 
sults. I have also recently witnessed an operation of ovariot¬ 
omy in the mare, performed on the same lines, with the same 
good luck. 
