764 



OENlTO-UmXARY ORGANS. 



The pedicles of the ovaries are released, and at once return to the 

 peritoneal cavity, while the operator, in withdrawing his hand, brings 

 with it the knife and the ovaries themselves. The lips of the operative 

 incision come together again spontaneously as the vagina contracts. 



This operation is followed by slight colic, which, however, need not 

 cause alarm. 



Complications : Haemorrhage. — If the incision is unskilfully per- 

 formed, it may in exceptional cases result in injury of the terminal 



portion of the aorta or 



the iliac arteries. The 

 blood then streams 

 past the operator's 

 hand, and the animal 

 dies of internal 

 haemorrhage in a few 

 minutes; nothing can 

 be done. 



If there is undue 

 haste in manipulating 

 the ('craseur , the 

 pedicle of the ovary 

 is cut rather than 

 crushed, the vessels 

 close imperfectly, and 

 grave haemorrhage 

 may occur. 



In cases where 

 haemorrhage is slight 

 the peritoneal clot is 

 readily re - absorbed ; 

 but should the animal 

 happen to be tuber- 

 culous or its vessels 



in any other way diseased, free haemorrhage may occur and may 



eventually be follow^ed by fatal peritonitis. 



Hernia of the intestine through the vagina is a rare complication 



nowadays, on account of the small dimensions of the perforations. 



In former times, when larger incisions were made, it occurred rather 



frequently. 



Abscess Formation. — Suppuration of the wound and peritonitis or 



vaginitis are caused solely by the neglect of antiseptic precautions. 

 Pelvic peritonitis following an operation is indicated, like ordinary 



acute peritonitis, by loss of appetite, peritonism, colic, etc. 



Fig. 321. — Castration of the cow. Second phase. 



