OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH. 1 1 1 



our domesticated animals. The uterus, U, Plate XVI, is 

 very small and physiologically unimportant, the cornua, 

 RUC and LUC, are ample in size and constitute physiolog- 

 ically the uterus, the Fallopian tube between LUC and O 

 is ver}' short and surgically could almost be said not to ex- 

 ist, the ovary OO is very small, smooth and completely hid- 

 den in the pavilion which here constitutes a sac having a 

 very small longitudinal opening of 2 to 5 mm. The most 

 remarkable feature of the apparatus from a surgical stand- 

 point is the great development of the broad ligament which 

 is broader than the distance from the lumbar region to the 

 abdominal floor, while the uterus and uterine cornua are 

 stretched between the vagina, V, and the ovary, O, so that 

 they are suspended in the sub-lumbar region with the double 

 fold of the broad ligament hanging down like a curtain be- 

 tween the parietal peritoneum and the uterus and cornua on 

 either side. The broad ligament of the bitch is consequently 

 suspended at one point from the sub-lumbar region, at the 

 other from the uterus, so that instead of the uterus being sus- 

 pended by the ligament the relation is reversed and the liga- 

 ment is suspended from the uterus, or rather uterine cornua. 

 In Plate XVI the right broad ligament BL' is laid out upon 

 the side exposing the right uterine coriiu RUC, while on 

 the left side the ligament is divided at about its center and 

 the posterior portion BL' is laid out on the flank, while the 

 anterior BL is left in its normal position concealing a por- 

 tion of the corn u LUC. Unlike our other domesticated ani- 

 mals, the broad ligament is heavily loaded with fat which 

 gives it an appearance very similar to the omentnm, but the 

 net-work is far less conspicuous or wanting. The omentum 

 also extends back into this region so that the two are in con- 

 tact. The ovary being indistinct and hidden is difficult to 

 identify directly, and the cornua being covered over by the 

 duplicature of the broad ligament is not readily reached, so 

 that the finger generally comes in contact first with the broad 

 ligament of the uppermost cornu hanging loose in the peri- 



