OOPHORECTOMY. 2.37 



excision of the ovary, may bleed to an alarming extent, and though 

 in some cases compressing the stump with the fingers may arrest 

 the haemorrhage, in others the pedicle must be ligatured. Suppura- 

 tion of the wound and peritonitis arise solely from neglect of 

 antiseptic precautions. 



Protrusion of intestine through the vaginal wound is a very rare 

 accident. Formerly, when larger incisions were made, hernia 

 occurred frequently. 



Operation through the flank may be practised in either the 

 standing or recumbent position. Usually the opening is made in 

 the left side, because the rumen, if not too full, is less likely to 

 protrude than the intestine, which is apt to hinder operation through 

 the right flank. 



The animal is prepared by a restricted diet for thirty-six hours 

 and then secured for operation. The upper region (or hollow) of the 

 left flank is clipped, shaved, washed, and disinfected with iodine, or 

 a five per cent, solution of carbolic acid. In the middle of this space 

 a vertical incision, or one slightly inclined forwards or backwards, 

 and about four inches long, is made through the abdominal wall. 

 The skin, fascia, and muscles are carefully divided layer by layer 

 down to the peritoneum, which is not opened until the bleeding 

 from the muscles has stopped. The peritoneum is punctured with 

 a director and the wound is then enlarged to the same extent as that 

 through the muscles. A hand is passed into the abdomen, over 

 the rumen and downwards towards the right pubic border of the 

 pelvis, to secure the right ovary, which is drawn nearer the opening 

 and removed by the ecraseur. The left ovary is removed in the 

 same way, both glands are brought outside the abdomen, and the 

 cutaneous wound is closed by sutures and covered with a protective 

 adhesive. 



In opening the flank, some operators endeavour, by dividing 

 the layers of the abdominal wall in different directions, to effect 

 more or less overlapping of the wounds of the skin and muscles, 

 but this object can be more conveniently attained, at least in the 

 recumbent animal, by having the left hind leg drawn well back 

 before incising the flank. 



(b) Female lambs are seldom castrated. Obich operated on ten- 

 weeks-old animals from the left flank. The incision was sufficiently 

 large to admit the index and middle fingers into the abdomen. The 

 ovaries were drawn towards the opening and were snipped off with 

 scissors. In twelve cases healing was uninterrupted, but in one- 

 lamb an abscess occurred at the point of operation. 



