VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. 97 

 26. VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. 



FlGS. 10, II AND Pl,ATE XV. 



Objects. The alleviation of vice when related to ovarian 

 irritation or disease. 



Instruments. Colin's scalpel, ratchet ecraseur, 55 cm. 

 long. 



Technic. The vnlvo-vaginal canal of the mare is unique 

 in its physiological behavior. Under venereal excitement or 

 the introduction of the operator's hand or of tepid water the 

 organ has the power of " ballooning " or dilating to a degree 

 not seen so far as we know in other animals ; the walls be- 

 come erected, hard, and stand apart from each other, filling 

 the pelvic cavit}^, the vaginal walls resting firmly against the 



FIG. 10. Special spraying ecraser, 55 cm. long. 



FIG. ii. Colin's scalpel. 



pelvic bones at every part except at the points where the blad- 

 der and rectum intervene and these organs are pressed out flat 

 and occupy a minimum space. In the quiescent state the 

 vaginal walls are in contact and from the perinaeum forward 

 to within about locm. of the uterine os, the vulva and vagina 

 are connected above with the rectum by the pelvic connec- 

 tive tissue, while anterior to this point the vagina is covered 

 by peritoneum, and it is in this area that the incision needs 

 7 



