Seqiielce of Cncshing the Ovaries. 



217 



their normal health. Evidenth', fatal hemorrhage may also ac- 

 company more or less extensive lacerations of the rectum. 



In one cow we ruptured by compression on two occasions, 

 April and August, 1906, what we believed to be thick- walled ab- 

 scesses the size of a hen's egg in the right ovar}-, which was fol- 

 lowed in each case 24 hours after operation by symptoms of se- 

 vere peritonitis, which persisted for 14 days, so that our view 

 was supported that in this case we were not dealing with a cyst, 

 but with an ovarian abscess. 



With a view to prophylaxis of fatal hemorrhage, we believe the 

 chief danger lies in too hasty, too careless operations, and in 

 a too loose generalization of cases. If, therefore, each case is 

 judiciously considered separately, as is undeniably demanded, 

 there is no fear of after-hemorrhage. The careful, experienced 

 practitioner will find cases of diseased ovaries which it is injudi- 

 cious to handle. 



From a prophylactic standpoint, it is desirable, in all those cases 

 where it is not perfectly certain that it is a cyst which is being 

 ruptured, that digital compression should be applied to the ovary 

 for 10 to 20 minutes after the operation, or, this being impractic- 

 able, the compression may be applied per rectum or per vaginam 

 to the ovarian artery, which lies just beyond the apex of the 

 uterine cornua. While the after-compression carried out per 

 rectum has the disadvantage of being rendered difficult by the 

 straining, and is more certain, reliable and easier per vaginam, 

 either is efficient and trustworth}-. In addition, the owner or 

 milker should keep the patient under obser\'ation, whether day 

 or night, for some fifteen hours after operation. 



