ANIMAL CASTRATION. 135 



ately below the lumbar vertebra next to the last rib; 

 if horizontal it should be parallel with the vertebral 

 column. The vertical incision should be preferred, 

 because it brings the ovaries within easy reach of 

 the fingers. It should be from two to three inches 

 in length, and should be made by a single stroke of 

 the knife, and without dividing the peritoneum, 

 which should, afterwards, be either torn with the 

 finger or carefully cut while raised with the forceps. 

 To find the ovaries the operator introduces the index 

 finger of the right hand between the vertebral column 

 and the intestines, and explores the lumbar region. 

 Upon finding the ovarian sac, he presses it against 

 the abdominal wall and causes it to slide by pushing 

 towards the opening through which it is extruded 

 and grasped. While it is held there the left horn is 

 carefully drawn out after it, until arriving at the bi- 

 furcation of the horns at the uterus, the right horn 

 also is brought out and the ovary on that side se- 

 cured. Both glands being now outside, they are 

 torn or scraped off from their attachment, and the 

 horns are returned to the abdomen . 



While this process is readily applicable to young 

 sows, and requires a certain amount of practice to 

 be performed expertly and with success, it is slightly 

 modified when applied to older animals. In that 

 case the two horns must not be exposed outside to- 

 gether, but each must be returned when the removal 

 of the ovary connected with it has been effected. 



The simple tearing of the ovaries is not always 

 sufficient, and may be sometimes followed by serious 



