CASTRATION OP BITCHES. 243 



is shown by the professional castrator. Bowman, for a wager, 

 castrated 100 sows in 160 minutes. 



(b) Castration of bitches is performed for the purpose of avoiding in- 

 convenience caused by the animal coming on heat. When young, and not 

 too fat, these animals appear to bear operation well. The manipulation 

 is more difficult than in swine, and can only be mastered by consider- 

 able practice, especially when the operation is performed through the 

 flank. In the bitch, the ovaries lie much further forward, near the 

 kidneys ; they are small, often enveloped in fat and the ovarian ligament 

 is short. The uterine horns are shorter and less flexuous than in the sow. 



The bitch may be secured like the sow, or may be laid on its right 

 side on a table and anaesthetised. The incision is made near the 

 last rib, and about 11 inches below the transverse processes of the 

 lumbar vertebras. It should be about If inches in length, and should 

 follow the direction of the outer oblique abdominal muscle, which 

 may be divided at the same time as the skin. In the event of the 

 operator desiring to remove both ovaries from one side, which is 

 only practicable in small animals, the incision must not be made too 

 far forward. On the other hand, when an incision is made on either 

 side, each may be placed somewhat further forward. 



The abdominal wall is pierced with the index finger of the right 

 hand as in swine, and the finger is passed towards the sublumbar 

 region in order to find the ovary, which is the size of a bean, and 

 lies close behind the kidney. Though the ovary may not be found, 

 the horn of the uterus is almost immediately encountered and should 

 be drawn forward, when the ovary will be discovered, and can be 

 nipped or cut off. By utilising the left horn of the uterus, the right 

 may also be drawn forward and the ovary removed in a similar way. 

 Both horns of the uterus are then returned to the peritoneal cavity, 

 and the skin wound is sutured. 



To prevent the peritoneum stripping away from the abdominal 

 wall and forming a pocket, some operators, after dividing the outer 

 skin and abdominal muscles with a knife, perforate the peritoneum 

 with a director instead of with the finger. The director is then 

 thrust into the abdominal cavity, and the opening enlarged by passing 

 the knife along its groove. This prevents injury to the bowel. 



It is often difficult to draw forward the right ovary, especially 

 if the incision be made far forward. Some of the most experienced 

 operators recommend making a second incision in a similar position 

 on the right side, and repeating the process. 



In castration through the abdominal floor, which is easier for 

 beginners, the animal is placed on its back on a table and anaesthetised. 



