CASTRATION. 



767 



Third stage. Ablation of the ovaries or of the ovaries and horns 

 of the uterus. 



Fourth stage. Suture of the wound. 



The tissues are divided layer by layer. The skin is formed into 

 a longitudinal fold and divided in a vertical direction, and the sub- 

 jacent muscular layers are then divided with the bistoury. The 

 tissues are next broken through layer by layer with the index finger 

 until the parietal peritoneum is reached. This membrane is then 

 fissured, or at least scraped with the nail, and perforated wdth a 

 sudden sharp thrust of the index finger. 



This practice, however, has the disadvantage of sometimes causing 

 the parietal peritoneum to strip away from the wall of the abdomen, 

 which greatly increases the difficulties of opera- 

 tion. It is better, therefore, to grasp the peri- 

 toneum wdth a small pair of forceps, draw it out- 

 wards, and secure it so as to puncture it with 

 more certainty. When experience has been ac- 

 quired this precaution will be unnecessary. 



The incision being made and the finger in- 

 troduced into the abdomen, the operator, who 

 kneels against the animal's back, searches for 

 the ovaries with his index finger. The upper 

 ovary of the side in which the incision has been 

 made will be found immediately in contact with 

 the parietal peritoneum, and the operator must 

 take care not to displace it by untimely or care- 

 less manipulation, which may thrust it away 

 among the loops of intestine. The finger being 

 doubled up in the form of a hook, the ovary is 

 seized and drawn out. Sometimes it may be 



easier to withdraw the uterine horn, leaving the search for the ovary 

 until a little later. 



The first ovary having been discovered, its pedicle is seized 

 between the left_ thumb and index finger or the jaws of pressure 

 forceps, and then the search is continued for that of the opposite 

 side. In young sows the horn of the uterus may be followed up 

 from its extremity (ovarian extremity) towards its origin (bifurcation 

 of the body of the uterus) and the search continued along the horn 

 of the uterus of the opposite side, which is followed in the reverse 

 direction from its base towards its extremity until the second ovary 

 is found. 



The most difficult stage is that at which the change is made from 

 one horn to the other, for this is the moment when the contraction 



Fig. 323 — Castrating 

 knives. 



