672 Veteriiiary Obstetrics 



undertaken, and were virtually hopeless. The cow with- 

 stands laparotomy splendidly, as is well shown by the 

 operation of spaying through the flank. She is quite resist- 

 ant to lesions of the uterine walls, and so it would appear that 

 she could withstand hysterotomy with comparative safety if we 

 had, to begin with, an aseptic uterus and uterine contents. The 

 difficulty with the operation is largely due to the fact that the 

 fetus and its membranes have undergone putrid decomposition 

 and that the uterine cavity has become infected before the ope- 

 ration is attempted. Under such conditions, success can scarcely 

 be hoped for in a reasonable number of cases. In many instances 

 it is quite impracticable for the veterinarian to determine early 

 the advisability of the operation. 



Living foals have been repeatedly removed from the mare by 

 Caesarian section, but we have been unable to find a record where 

 the life of the mare has been preserved. We do not believe that 

 this total want of success is necessary. We know full well that, 

 under modern surgical methods, we can perform laparotomy in 

 the horse without serious danger. Since this is true, there is no 

 essential reason why hysterotomy should not succeed in some 

 cases. We grant that it never can be made as successful as in 

 the cow. There are, however, some cases, especially those of 

 tran.sverse or bi-cornual development of the fetus, in which no 

 successful delivery has 3^et been recorded, where the prompt 

 performance of hysterotomy might offer some hope for the 

 life of the mother. The foal is already dead when the veterin- 

 arian is called, but it and the uterus need not yet be infected to 

 any great degree. 



