CASTRATION. 



763 



The blade is next retracted into its sheath and the instrument 

 dropped on to the floor of the vagina. The right index finger is at once 

 passed through the orifice so made into the peritoneal cavity, in order 

 to make certain that all the membranes have been divided. By pressing 

 on and slightly tearing the tissues the middle finger is then introduced 

 alongside the index. Only these two fingers should be passed into the 

 peritoneal cavity. 



In order to secure the ovaries it then suffices (Fig. 321) to thrust 

 forward the base of 

 the vagina, allowing 

 the two fingers to 

 glide over the body 

 of the uterus and 

 thence downward 

 over its side to the 

 point where the 

 horns of the uterus 

 originate. Here the 

 fingers meet the 

 ovary,which is readily 

 recognisable on ac- 

 count of its size and 

 shape (those of a 

 walnut). The gland 

 is nipped between the 

 index and middle 

 fingers, and is drawn 

 into the vagina 

 through the opera- 

 tive opening. 



In order to re- 

 move the ovary the 

 operator seizes the 

 ecraseu r with the 



left hand, a loop of chain about an inch long projecting, and slides 

 the instrument along his right forearm. The arm must be retained 

 in the vagina, the fingers grasping the ovary. The organ is slipped 

 into the loop of the ecraseiir, which is then manipulated with the left 

 hand until the pedicle is divided. To prevent haemorrhage the screw 

 of the ecraseur should only be turned at the rate of about twice a 

 minute. The ovary when separated is left on the floor of the vagina, 

 the fingers being again introduced into the abdominal cavity to secure 

 the second one. This is removed in precisely the same way. 



Fig. 320. — Castration of the cow. First phase. 



