182 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



of carbolic acid for two or three days before being used. The sponges or 

 wool, or whatever is used for mopping up the blood, must be similarly 

 dealt with. 



Having sterilized the instruments, the operator must give strict atten- 

 tion to his own person. Dirty hands or a dirty garment may make the 

 difference between success and failure. He should wear a gown which has 

 been washed and rinsed in a solution of carbolic acid or perchloride of 

 mercury. His hands and arms should be washed and brushed in soap and 

 carbolized water, and afterwards rinsed in a fresh solution of the same. 



The nails must be cut short and be thoroughly cleansed. 

 These preliminaries having been completed, the opera- 

 tion may be proceeded with. 



In casting a mare for the purpose in question, the ordi- 

 nary hobbles (Plate LI) will suffice, after which she may 

 be brought under the influence of chloroform in the ordinary 

 way. 



There are two positions in which an animal may be 

 placed for being operated upon: — (1) Standing. (2) Re- 

 cumbent. 



In the former the parts to be dealt with are in their 

 natural position, and are in this respect more readily seized 

 and removed; but to restrain these animals for such an 

 ordeal requires the administration of large doses of morphia 

 or chloral, and even then a good deal of unnecessary pain 

 and struggling invariably results. 



The most convenient and humane method is no doubt 



to place the animal in the recumbent posture, and, as 



we have suggested, to put her under the influence of 



chloroform. 



In this condition all sense of feeling is obliterated or put to rest. There 



is no pain nor suffering, and the mare may be put in any position the 



ojjerator may require. 



When this has been done, the operation may be proceeded with. This 

 consists in making a hole in the walls of the vagina, through which the 

 hand may be passed into the belly. 



The operator, placing himself in a recumbent position behind the mare, 

 takes the guarded knife (fig. 526) in the left hand and carries it into the 

 vagina. At the anterior extremity of this cavity will be felt a short, fleshy 

 projection, the neck of the uterus. This may be used as a guide for the 

 incision which must be made in order to reach the ovary. The knife is 

 carried to the inferior part of this body (as the animal lies), and being then 



Fig. 526. — Guarded 

 Knife. The dotted 

 line shows the blade 

 pressed forward for 

 cutting 



