Rupturing of Cysts per Rectum. 207 



or absence of pain on manipulation. Normall}^ ovaries without 

 fresh corpora lutea, according to the age of the animal, as already 

 related on page 168, are the size of a pea, bean or large hazelnut, 

 ovoid and of firm-elastic consistence. Large, ripe follicles vary 

 in size from a pea to at most the size of a hazelnut and are 

 recognizable as soft, elastic, fluctuating spots, slightly elevated 

 above the surface. Corpora lutea, when fresh, vary in size from 

 a hazelnut to a hickorynut, project beyond the ovarian surface 

 as slightly elastic, wart-like outgrowths ; older and partly re- 

 sorbed. and persistent corpora (corpora albicantia and persisten- 

 tia) are only the size of a pea to that of a hazelnut, protrude 

 less, and are of a more firm and solid consistence. 



In the handling of ovarian cysts we have for many years re- 

 lied upon the following methods in this clinic : 



1. The rupture of the <zysX.s by compression per rectum. 



2. The rupture of the cysts b}- compression per vaginam. 



3. The puncture of the cysts through the vaginal roof. 



4. The injection of disinfecting liquids into the ovaries. 



5. Unilateral or bilateral castration. 



I. Rupturing the Cysts per Rectum. 



By this process, which was first described by Zangger, the 

 cystic degenerated ovar}' is grasped through the rectal wall, and 

 the cyst ruptured, either by compression with the entire hand or 

 by grasping it between the volar surfaces of two fingers and the 

 thumb bent at a right angle or by pressing it between the hand 

 and the ilial shaft or border. Care is to be taken that the bowel 

 contains no feces, and it is to be remembered that the operation 

 is more difficult in freshly fed cows on account of the more 

 abundant defecation and, therefore, when practicable, should 

 be undertaken during the afternoon, which has the further ad- 

 vantage that, in case of the advent of fatal hemorrhage, the 

 emergency slaughter need not be undertaken until the following 

 morning, instead of during the night. In a large proportion of 

 cases, moderate pressure suffices to bring about the rupture of the 

 cysts, the accomplishment of which is to be recognized by a 

 sudden collapse of the ovary in the hand. 



In reference to the possibility of rupturing the cysts, those 

 which are solitary, thin walled and of recent formation are uni- 

 formly most certain and easiest. In our experience with many 



