OVARIOTOMY IN TROUBLESOME MARES 



183 



unsheathed, is carefully plunged through the walls of the vagina. Having 

 done this, the fingers one after another are then passed into the opening, 

 which they enlarge by tearing the structures until the hand can be intro- 

 duced. The tearing is done in order to avoid haemorrhage, which would 

 follow incision of the vessels of the part. 



On entering the abdomen the hand is passed in an upward and forward 

 direction, following the line of the horn of the uterus, and the ovary will be 

 found suspended from the spine behind the kidney. In a natural condition 

 the ovary is somewhat soft, but in these nymphomaniacs it usually becomes 

 more or less hard, and may be either enlarged or contracted. 



Fig. 527.— Cystic Ovary 



A, The ovary entire. A A, Cysts distended with fluid. B, Ovary in section. A A, Cysts or Cavities from 



which fluid has been removed. 



The next stage in the operation is the removal of the gland, and for this 

 purpose the ecraseur is passed through the wound made in the vagina. 

 The chain of the instrument is then placed round the parts which suspend 

 it, and tightened up by turning the screw slowly until the ovary drops into 

 the hand. Care must be taken to secure it, and not allow it to fall into the 

 belly. The other ovary is then removed in a similar manner. 



This having been done, the operation is completed and the mare is 

 allowed to rise. Usually these cases make a good recovery, and, excepting 

 slight temporary uneasiness and colicky pains occasionally for the first few 

 hours, no unfavourable symptoms are presented. 



The mare should be kept on scalded food for a day or two, and gradu- 

 ally returned to her normal rations. 



If after removal the ovaries be examined, they will be found to be in 

 one of two conditions. Either they are much smaller than is natural, or they 



