104 VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. 



DANGERS. 



Wounding of the rectum is scarcely possible if care is 

 taken not to attempt the incision until the vagina is well 

 " ballooned," and then making the stab wound directly for- 

 ward. If made upwards when the organ is so erected the 

 accident is highly probable, and with the undilated vagina 

 where it is necessary to cut upwards the danger is ever pres- 

 ent. Its prevention demands that the operator await the 

 complete "ballooning" and then make his incision as 

 directed. If the wound in the rectum passes through the 

 pelvic connective tissue behind the peritoneum it is of little 

 consequence, but the operation should be abandoned ; if 

 the bowel is opened into the peritoneal cavity the accident 

 is fatal. 



"Wounding of the iliac arteries, which produces prompt 

 death from hemorrhage, results from the incision being made 

 upwards instead of forwards either when the vagina is " bal- 

 looned" or collapsed. It is most likely to occur with timid 

 operators who become nervous, especially when the vagina 

 does not "balloon" promptly or the mare is not well 

 secured. The accident is wholly unnecessary if the opera- 

 tor will await the "ballooning" and favor it if need be by 

 repeated injections of tepid soda solution. When it has oc- 

 curred it is generally beyond remedy. 



Wounding of the uterus may occur when the incision 

 is directed downward and may greatly embarrass the opera- 

 tor and confuse him by passing the hand through the incis- 

 ion into the uterine cavity. It is to be avoided by carefully 

 directing the incision straight forwards ; when the accident 

 occurs it is of little consequence beyond the embarrassment 

 and may be overcome by again dilating the vagina with 

 fresh injections of the soda solution and making a new incis- 

 ion, or if preferred the first incision may be corrected by 

 placing an index finger against the peritoneum at the upper 

 part of the wound, and with a sudden and vigorous thrust 



