DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
287 
surgery more attention has been given to this division of sur¬ 
gery since than before the adoption of aseptic treatment of 
wounds ; of increased precision in operative surgery ; of a 
more comprehensive study of the physiological function of or¬ 
gans ; and, of surgical anatomy of domestic animals as an in¬ 
dispensable adjunct to veterinary surgery. The veterinary stu¬ 
dent who receives proper instruction sees all the major opera¬ 
tions performed at appointed clinics, and also has the course of 
treatment following these operations demonstrated at the daily 
morning clinic of the surgical ward ; and, in this way, he profits 
by the knowledge gained from the experience of others and 
improves accordingly ; whereas, without these advantages, a 
few alarming symptoms, dreaded sequelae or unfavorable results 
following his first few operations would probably cause him to 
“ drop ” surgery henceforth and forever. With a knowledge of 
the technique of abdominal operations, aseptic and antiseptic 
surgery, the veterinary surgeon should not hesitate to use such 
surgical interference when the opportunity presents itself ; even 
though a few genera of domestic animals are not favorable subt 
jects for abdominal surgery. In herbivora, such operations are 
seldom undertaken, excepting when the indication is the resul- 
of accidental injuries or wounds already mentioned in the clas¬ 
sification of indications for abdominal surgery (Vol. XXIV., 
No. 3, Dep’t of Surg.) The injuries included in the first clas¬ 
sification of indications for such surgical interference in all 
domestic animals may be divided as follows, viz.: 
I. Contusions of the abdomen. 
(1) Subcutaneous rupture of abdominal walls. 
(2) Solution of continuity of blood vessels. 
II. Wounds of the abdomen. 
1. Non-penetrating wounds. 
(a) Simple wounds. 
('b ) Complicated wounds. 
2. Penetrating wounds. 
{a) Wounds that divide the parietal portion of peritoneum. 
(b) Wounds with prolapse of viscera. 
(c) Wounds complicated with visceral injury. 
I. Contusions of the Abdomen. —Contusions are very com¬ 
mon in domestic animals, as a result of kicks, treads, collisions 
and injuries caused by horn thrusts. The condition of these 
injuries depends very much upon the force of the blow and the 
nature of the object with which the blow was given. These 
bruises sometimes inflict subcutaneous wounds which may 
