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EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS 
Several times I have seen cattle, which, while trying to run away, 
had been bitten in the tail by dogs, leaving wounds which bled 
freely. In one of these cases, for instance, two deep wounds 
had been made on each side of the tail, at about its middle, and 
severe hemorrhage was going on. An elastic ligature slightly 
tight was put on, and the bleeding stopped. Two hours later the 
dressing was removed and the hemorrhage returned, being brought 
on by the motion of the tail, when the elastic band was again 
applied and left for twenty-four hours. On being removed 
again, the hemorrhage returned. Another ligature, tighter, was 
applied and left several days. This was followed by a sloughing 
of the tail. This result induced me to use the elastic cord in 
cases of amputation. 
“ Amputations .—Some dogs have at the posterior face of the 
metacarpi, supplementary fingers, whose claws do not rest on the 
ground, and do not wear. These get broken and torn, giving 
rise to somewhat serious lameness. In these cases it becomes 
necessary to amputate the finger, right at its origin. 
“ Formerly a simple section was made, but was followed by 
hemorrhage more or less annoying than dangerous. To avoid 
this I have used the elastic ligature. 
“ This claw is united to the others only by the skin. After a 
few days of constriction, by slight torsion, it easily became 
loose, without losing one drop of blood. * * * Mr. Goubaux, 
some time ago, made a report upon the amputation of supple¬ 
mentary members in our domestic animals, (horses, cows, sheep.) 
I believe that the elastic ligature ought to be tried in those cases. 
“ Amputation of the tail of a horse .—In this operation, the 
most difficult step is to stop the hemorrhage. Nervous, irritable 
horses resist the actual cauterization generally used, and it often 
requires several applications before the bleeding stops. Instead 
of this, I applied a ligature well tightened, as near as possible 
between two of the caudal vertebra, previous to amputation, 
which is then done as usual. After a week, the elastic cord 
was removed, and in a short time the animal was ready to resume 
his work. 
“ In the dog, the same operation can be performed.”— Recueil 
de Medecine Veterinaire. 
