164 THE HOG. 



and, above all, never to sever a muscle if it could be avoided. The 

 hair being removed, I was about to make the incisions lengthways, 

 in the course of the linea alba, when it suddenly occurred to ma 

 that I should not, in this case, be able to keep the lips of the wound 

 approximated by sutures or bandages, on account of the depending 

 state of the abdomen and its contents. I therefore determined to 

 make the incisions more on the side, and across the oblique externus 

 abdominis. I accordingly cut freely through the integuments foi 

 about eight inches in length, which I accomplished with a common 

 scalpel. Next I penetrated through the adipose or fatty matter 

 underneath, of which there was no lack ; and then cut down on the 

 muscle, at the superior part of the incision, quite through, and expos- 

 ing the peritoneum. I now introduced my forefingers as directors, 

 and with the curved bistoury laid the abdomen freely open. 



" The lips of the incision or wound of course receded from each 

 other to a great distance, and a slight arterial hemorrhage ensued, 

 which I thought proceeded from the circumflex artery of the ileum. 

 If the incision had been made longitudinally, this might have been 

 prevented, but as the hemorrhage soon ceased, it was of little con- 

 sequence. The intestines were much inflated with gas, and protruded 

 as far as the wound of the peritoneum extended. 



" I now introduced my right hand, and distinctly felt the situation 

 of the uterus, when the animal made a desperate struggle, and some 

 of the small intestines escaped. I found it necessary for an assist- 

 ant to introduce his hand, to prevent a repetition of this. The 

 bladder was distended with urine, which proved somewhat trouble- 

 some, and I had no catheter at hand. I was now about to make a 

 second attempt to open the uterus, when I accidently felt the pulsa- 

 tion of a large artery. Had I divided the uterus in the same 

 direction as the incision in the abdomen I should have cut the artery. 

 Was it the uterine or vaginal artery 1 I placed my hand inferior to 

 the vessel, and felt a young one. Next, with a scalpel in my right 

 hand, guarded at the point with my forefinger, fearing that the sow 

 might struggle and the instrument wound some of the intestines, I 

 cut through the uterus, introduced my finger guarding the scalpel, 

 and effected an opening into it about six inches in length. I then 

 introduced my hand, laid hold of one of the foetal pigs, and drew it 

 out. In this way I proceeded until I removed the whole number, 

 which amounted to seven. 



"The operation being thus far completed, her legs were drawn 

 towards each other, which brought the lips of the wound into approxi 

 mation, and I retained them there by strong adhesive plasters, over 

 which I placed a roller passing three times round her body. I now 

 proceeded to examine my patient : she was, as might be expected, 

 in a very weak state ; and when her head was raised, it fell again 

 ipon my hand as if she wis dead. As she lay in this exhausted 



