52 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
and in many cases peristalsis is resumed after the removal of gas 
generated in the intestine. If the operation can be deferred long 
enough to clean the skin at the site selected to be punctured it 
should be washed carefully and disinfected. In many cases this 
can not be done because the patient is either too restless or in 
such a condition that the operation cannot be postponed long 
enough to do so thoroughly. The operation is performed by 
standing at the right side of the horse, leaning against the 
abdomen, and holding the trocar in the left hand over the point 
selected in the triangle formed between the external angle of 
the ilium and the posterior border of the last rib and tranverse 
processes of the lumbar vertebra; the trocar thus held over the 
place selected and properly directed is driven through the abdom¬ 
inal walls with the right hand. It is good practice to anoint 
the spot with vaseline so that the hair can be parted from the 
point of insertion. Cutting the skin with a lance or rowelling 
shears is bad practice, because it leaves an open wound for in¬ 
fection should the patient continue to roll about again after 
the operation. Our particular method of tapping horses or cat¬ 
tle for intestinal flatulence consists of parting the hair with 
vaseline or any clean oil at hand, passing the instrument 
through the flame of a match to disinfect it and then driving it 
to the hilt at one blow. Such an operation can be repeated fre¬ 
quently without bad results. When abscesses form at the point 
ENTEROCENTESIS. 
