OVARIOTOMY IN TROUBLESOME MARES 181 



one side or the other and refuse to be straightened. Sometimes they may 

 be driven without fear, and at others they become vicious and kick 

 furiously at the vehicle to which they are yoked. 



Habits of this kind are not unlikely to be attended with serious conse- 

 quences, and the owner naturally seeks for something to be done to correct 

 them. Here the operation of ovariotomy, or removal of the ovaries, is the 

 only remedy by which the animal can be rendered quiet and useful. Some- 

 times, especially in the case of old mares in whom the vice of kicking has 

 become indelibly established, the operation does not seem to overcome 

 it altogether, but as a rule the contrary is the case, and the mare is 

 rendered quite quiet and useful for all kinds of work. 



It is seldom that animals of this kind will breed, and nothing is lost 

 therefore by removing the organs of reproduction. 



It is advisable that some attention should be given to the condition of 

 the mare before the operation is commenced, and especially in respect to 

 her diet. For three or four days previously she should be fed on sloppy 

 bran, and during the last twenty-four hours before the operation, all food 

 should be withheld and very little water allowed; this should be given 

 early on the morning of the operation. 



Inasmuch as the rectum is immediately above the part to be operated 

 upon and the bladder below it, it is necessary that both these organs 

 should be emptied of their contents. By so doing, additional room is 

 acquired for the operator, and if an enema or two be thrown up the former 

 before the operation, the liability of soiling the hands is thereby guarded 

 against. 



All the outlying parts of the mare, as the under surface of the tail, the 

 rectum, the perineum, and the labia, should be thoroughly washed with 

 warm water and soap, and after being sponged with clean water should 

 then be freely dressed with a 5-per-cent solution of carbolic acid. This 

 should be done in the morning, and again immediately before operating. 



As the vagina is the part to be operated upon, it becomes of the first 

 importance to ensure that it, as well as the part leading to it, should be 

 rendered as thoroughly aseptic as possible. For two or three days before 

 the operation an antiseptic solution of chinosol, or perchloride of mercury, 

 or carbolic acid should be injected into it morning and evening; and when 

 the mare is cast, and while under the influence of chloroform, this can be 

 repeated, and in addition the walls of the vagina should be thoroughly 

 sponged with antiseptic solution. 



The instruments required for the operation are an ecraseur (fig. 523), 

 a knife whose blade is guarded (fig. 526), and an enema syringe. These 

 must be thoroughly cleansed and boiled, or placed in a 5-per-cent solution 



