50 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
ity without further trouble. The sac is then sutured to com¬ 
plete the operation. If on inspecting the contents of a hernia 
the intestines are necrotic resection of the diseased portion and 
approximation of the cut ends is indicated. But we admit the 
step is not eminently successful in the larger veterinary patients 
or even in the smaller ones. Whenever the hernia is large and 
contains a number of loops all of which are black success can 
not be expected and the patient might as well be destroyed be¬ 
fore it revives from the ansesthetic. But the surgeon must not 
hastily pronounce all dark bowels necrotic. Frequently such 
dark colored loops when released from their imprisonment will 
soon resume a healthy state and the patient make a surprising 
recovery. The post-operative treatment consists of small quan¬ 
tities of laxative diet, alcoholic stimulants and oleaginous laxa¬ 
tives. 
PARACENTESIS. 
In veterinary surgery the trocar and canula may be used for 
two purposes : 
1. As a method of exploring cavities. 
2. For temporary relief, by removal of contents of cavities. 
1. As a method of diagnosis, an exploratory puncture often 
assists in ascertaining the condition of tumors, cysts, sinuses or 
cavities; in most cases it is a procedure that is useless as a 
curative measure, its use, however, does not modify or interfere 
with the treatment indicated ; but in many instances it is a de¬ 
cided benefit in determining the true condition and making a 
correct diagnosis. There is no doubt that such a method of 
making a diagnosis often overcomes difficulties, even if the ex¬ 
ploratory puncture is not recommended by experienced prac¬ 
titioners. In making an exploratory puncture the needle or 
trocar must be well sterilized by boiling ; the skin must be 
thoroughly cleansed, because epithelial tissue together with sep¬ 
tic material may be carried into the cavity punctured by the 
instrument and cause sepsis. Cysts, growths, tumors, sheaths, 
bursae, and vesicles have often been infected by the improper 
use of the trocar, therefore it is always necessary to take every 
precaution possible to prevent such infection when using the 
trocar for this purpose. 
2. The use of the trocar for temporary relief. This procedure 
is never used as a curative measure; to remove gas from the in¬ 
testinal tract, or fluids from the peritoneal or thoracic cavities 
does not remove the cause that excites the accumulation of gas 
or fluids in these cavities ; the removal of gas from the intestine 
