DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE 421 



ping- purposes. Many claim that heifers do a great deal better 

 after being spayed. 



The operation may be performed upon an animal at any 

 age, although the best time is when she is a year old. It 

 should not be performed before this time nor during the 

 period of or for a few months after pregnancy. 



The best plan is to operate on the left side just above the 

 stomach or paunch, as owing to the situation of the paunch 

 there is less danger of the bowels protruding from the in- 

 cision that must of necessity be made. 



Prepare the heifers or cows by allowing nothing to eat 

 for a few hours before commencing. This reduces to a min- 

 imum the danger of being hurt during the operation. When 

 many are to be spayed build a stanchion having solid sides 

 to prevent the subject from swinging round. Make provision 

 also for tying securely to prevent movement during the oper- 

 ation. 



Select a point on the left side about three or four inches 

 downward and forward from the point of the hip. Begin at 

 this point and make an incision downward and forward suf- 

 ficiently large enough to admit the hand. Before inserting 

 the hand take extra precaution to see that it is thoroughly 

 clean and disinfected by being well oiled with carbolized oil. 

 Pass the hand through the incision back until the bladder is 

 reached. Just above the bladder is situated the broad liga- 

 ment and the womb. Pass the fingers along the follopian 

 tube until the left ovary is reached. Draw this out sufficiently 

 far enough and remove it with a spaying emasculator. Pro- 

 ceed in exactly the same manner and remove the other ovary. 

 Press the follopian tubes back to proper position. Sew up 

 the incision with a couple of stitches and allow the animal 

 to go. 



The operation of spaying may seem to be somewhat 

 complicated, but with a little practice becomes very simple. 

 We advise those intending to perform it or to make a busi- 

 ness of it to examine carefully the organs mentioned in our 

 description. This may be done at any slaughter house while 

 a heifer is being killed. Examine the bladder, womb, fol- 

 lopian tubes and ovaries and note the relative position of 

 each. 



