OOPHORECTOMY. 251 



abandoned. At the time of the writer's stay in Germany and Austria 

 (1892 and 1893) it was extensively practised, but later inquiries show 

 that it has been again rehnquished, and is now seldom spoken of. 

 Attempts have also been made to practise it extensively in England, 

 but without much success. Even although peritonitis is avoided, the 

 rumen is apt to become adherent to the wall of the abdomen and 

 digestive disturbance to follow. Hendrickx claims that in one respect 

 castration acts as a prophylactic against tuberculosis, inasmuch as it 

 prevents the bearing of calves by animals suffering from or disposed 

 to this disease. As the calves of old animals are particularl}' inclined 

 to contract tuberculosis, Hendrickx recommends castrating cows at 

 the age of eight years. 



Castration is successfully employed in cows as a cure for n^'mpho- 

 mania. Albrecht operated on fifty animals with this object , forty- 

 two were completely cured, in three cases the operation failed, and 

 in five cases was only partially successful. Of twenty-five after- 

 wards operated on, twenty-three were cured. After castration the 

 broad uterine ligaments again become tense, the milk secretion and 

 character of the meat improve, and the proportion of fat in the milk 

 increases. 



The old operation of removing the ovaries by the right flank was 

 wisely abandoned in favour of the method introduced by Charlier, viz, 

 removal through the vagina. That the latter deserves preference, 

 except in those cases where strict antisepsis can be observed, is shown 

 by Lanzillotti's observations. At the present time Charlier's method 

 is almost exclusively employed. 



In the cow the ovaries lie below the transverse processes of the 

 fourth to the sixth lumbar vertebrae, level with the external angle of the 

 ilium, but about 2 to 2j inches nearer the middle line. They are nearly 

 the size of walnuts, are flattened, rounded, and of firm consistence, 

 for which latter reason they are easy to recognise. When diseased, 

 however, as in nymphomania, either one or both may be very much 

 enlarged. 



Charlier's operation is performed as follows : — The animal, which 

 must be in good health, receives half rations on the evening before, and 

 no food whatever on the morning of operation. The operation is best 

 performed with the animal in the standing position, and in its stall. 

 The head is fastened up short, and two men standing near the hind 

 quarters prevent the animal moving to either side. One of these men 

 holds the tail whilst both grasp a round pole passed under the cow's 

 body to prevent it lying down. In case of severe straining, on the 

 other hand, they place the pole on the cow's back, on which they 



