VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. 



129 



Wounding of the uterus may occur when the incision is 

 directed downward and may greatly embarrass the operator 

 and confuse him by passing the hand through the incision 

 into the uterine cavity. It is to be avoided in the first 

 operation (without anaesthesia) by carefully directing the 

 incision straight forwards. When the accident occurs it is 

 of little consequence beyond the embarrassment and may be 

 overcome by again dilating the vagina with fresh injections 

 of the soda solution and making a new incision, or if pre- 

 ferred the first cut may be corrected by placing an index 

 finger against the peritoneum at the upper part of the 

 wound, and with a sudden and vigorous thrust break 

 through into the peritoneal cavity, or the error may be 

 corrected by again using the scalpel and directing the in- 

 cision properly. If it is attempted to rupture the peritoneum 

 with the finger it must be done by a sharp thrust since 

 otherwise a large section of the men)brane will be pushed 

 away from the subjacent tissues. 



Incomplete penetration of the vaginal wall is liable to 

 occur if the scalpel is dull ox the vagina imperfectly "bal- 

 looned " and flaccid, or if the operator is unduly timid. It 

 is best prevented by avoiding the causes as related, and 

 once it has occurred it is generally best to again "balloon" 

 the organ in the operation without anaesthesia and make a 

 new incision either to the right or left of the first. It may 

 be overcome also by thrusting the index finger through the 

 peritoneum as described in the preceding paragraph or 

 completing the cut with the scalpel. 



The mistaking of a ball of feces for the ovary has oc- 

 curred to inexperienced operators and the fatal error of re- 

 moving the portion of the rectum surrounding the fecal pellet 

 committed. The blunder is uncalled for ; the fecal ball is 

 movable in the bowel, the intestine is far more massive 

 than the broad ligament, and the ovary is to be definitely 

 identified by its being lodged in the broad ligament just 

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