558 OBSTETRIC OPERATIONS. 



abdominal parietes, the mass of intestines presses heavily on the part 

 which has to be incised ; so that it needs much careful management and 

 supervision to effect cicatrization, and to procure such a solid adhesion 

 of the margins of the wound that hernia may not result. 



If the mother is alive, the operation is a painful one, and one of long 

 duration in some cases, and the pain inflicted causes the animal to 

 struggle ; this inconveniences the operator more or less, and — not to 

 speak of the humane feelings which should ever be predominant on such 

 occasions — induces him to avail himself of the advantages of anaesthesia, 

 if they can be obtained. Perhaps no agent is so useful in this respect as 

 the hydrate of chloral, though chloroform or aether may be administered 

 in the usual way — by inhalation — and produce their effect. The objection 

 to the two latter substances, however, is very great, so far as cattle are 

 concerned ; as they taint the flesh, should it be necessary to kill the ani- 

 mals, and utilize their flesh as food; whereas the chloral dydrate has not 

 this objectionable action. The latter is perhaps best administered in 

 enema ; for horses and cattle, the dose may be from fourteen to twenty- 

 two drams ; about two or three drams for dogs (depending on the size), 

 and three to six drams for pigs. It is best given in mucilage or bland 

 syrup of any kind. In a quarter of an hour or so the animal is in a state 

 of narcosis, and the operation may be commenced. Unfortunately, the 

 drug only too frequently causes the death of the foetus — a matter of some 

 importance when this is of more value than the parent ; but not to be 

 considered when the life of the latter is to be preserved. 



When the parent is doomed to be killed — as in the case of a worthless 

 Mare, or one suffering from an incurable disease or accident — and the 

 young animal is to be rescued, the best course to follow is to pierce the 

 medulla oblongata, and operate at once, as Vollmar has done with suc- 

 cess. By this means insensibility has been produced, and the young 

 creature extracted alive. Gtlnther recommends dividing the posterior 

 aorta after removal of the foetus, as it is close to hand in the abdominal 

 cavity, and death quickly ensues. 



For the operation but few instruments are needed. They consist 

 chiefly of a scalpel, probe-pointed bistoury, scissors, forceps, muscle-hooks, 

 and some common suture needles, pins, and sutures — silk or catgut. For 

 the larger animals a strong suture needle, suture wire, and waxed carbol- 

 ized thread or twine, teased oakum, tow, small pieces of wood or whale- 

 bone for the sutures, and large pieces of linen are required in addition, 

 as well as a body-bandage made by folding a linen or cotton sheet. If 

 the parent is not to be preserved, or is already dead or dying, of course 

 no such preparations need be made ; as a scalpel and probe-pointed bis- 

 toury, or even and ordinary pocket-knife, on an emergency, and used with 

 care, will suffice. 



The operation might, and should if possible, be performed under the 

 carbolic-acid spray ; with the smaller animals at least, this antiseptic 

 treatment can be adopted. 



The incision in the abdomen may be made in either of two regions — at 

 the linea alba, or the right flank. If it is desired to preserve the parent, 

 the flank operation is certainly to be preferred, with the larger animals and 

 the Sow, as no sutures can resist the weight of the mtestines when the 

 incision is at the inferior part of the abdomen. Even with the Bitch the 

 flank operation should be adopted for the same reason, and also because 

 wounding the mammae is avoided — an important consideration in more 



