DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
429 
the cats, I am going to do it at any time. Another reason is, 
to encourage the use of ether in all operative procedures with 
cats, whether it be simply the extracting of a tooth, castrating 
a developed male (not necessary with very young kittens), or 
the more important and intricate operations that may present 
themselves. The administration of ether to cats is reasonably 
safe—the more you use it the more confident you will grow on 
that point ; but if you wait for major operations, you will be 
long in becoming familiar with its use. Use it in the minor 
cases every day ; it will add much to yours and the cats’ com¬ 
fort, and to your accomplishments with them. Another reason 
is, to show that the case reported was particularly suited to the 
operation, because of the slit-like form of the rent, which 
brought its edges close together, occasioning no undue strain 
upon the sutures, and because it was readily reducible, indicat¬ 
ing no adhesions of the viscera to the sac ; hence, no fear in in¬ 
cising it. Should the opposite conditions exist, the opening 
round its edges widely separated, making their apposition diffi¬ 
cult, the operation could not promise an uninterrupted recovery ; 
and if adhesions exist, the operation is that much more difficult, 
and the outcome less certain of good result^, therefore not indi¬ 
cated. 
These two extremes and the many intermediary conditions 
can be readily recognized after the hernia is reduced, or cannot 
be reduced, as the case may be ; and a line of treatment and 
prognosis must be based upon the findings of this careful 
manipulation, and not simply upon the diagnosis of a hernia. 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
By E. A. and E. Merileat, 
of the McKillip Veterinary College , Chicago , III. 
ABDOMINAL, SURGERY. 
Abdominal Operations ( Concluded from page 377'). 
2. Intestmal Anastomosis. —The veterinarian frequently 
meets conditions in the surgical diseases of the abdomen of 
domestic animals which can be benefitted by connecting one 
part of the intestinal tract with another : e. g., the duodenum 
can be connected with the jejunum, ileum or colon ; the jeju¬ 
num with the ileum or colon ; the ileum with the colon ; one 
portion of the colon with another ; or the colon with the 
floating colon. The indication for such interference is usually 
a pathological condition or an accidental injury to the intes- 
