318 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



that she be not in heat or pregnant. This operation may be performed 

 in one of two ways, namely, by the ilank or by the vagina, each opera- 

 tion having its special advantages. In the flank operation the animal 

 may be operated upon either while standing or while in the recumbent 

 position. If standing she should be placed against a wall or a parti- 

 tion, and her head held by a strong assistant. The legs also must be 

 secured to prevent the animal from kicking. A vertical incision should 

 be made in the left Hank about the middle of the upper portion, care 

 being taken not to make the opening too far down, in order to avoid 

 the division of the circumflex artery which traverses that region. The 

 operator should now make an opening through the peritoneum, which 

 is best done with the fingers. Next introduce the hand and aim into 

 the abdominal cavity and direct the hand backward toward the pel- 

 vis, searching for the horns of the uterus. Follow them up and the 

 ovaries will easily be found. They should then be drawn outward and 

 may be removed either by the ecraseur or by torsion. The closing and 

 suturing the wound will complete the operation. An adhesive plaster 

 bandage can be beneficially applied. 



The operation by the vagina is more complicated and requires special 

 and expensive instruments. The mode of procedure in brief is as fol- 

 lows: A speculum is introduced into the vagina and an incision is made 

 into the superior wall of that passage about 2 inches from the neck of 

 the uterus, cutting from below upward and from before backward. 

 Make an incision which should not exceed 3 inches in length. The 

 next step is to get possession of the ovaries. They are situated in a 

 fold of the broad ligament and should be drawn carefully into the vagina 

 through the incision. Now take the long-handled scissors specially 

 made for this purpose, with which the thick border of the broad liga- 

 ment is divided. The torsion forceps are introduced and applied to the 

 broad ligament above the ovary. The left hand is then introduced and 

 the thumb and the index finger grasp hold of the broad ligament above 

 the forceps. Now commence with your right hand to apply torsion and 

 thus remove the ovary. The other ovary may be removed in the same 

 manner. 



The operation of castration is by no means a serious one, and when 

 properly performed there is little danger from complications. Although 

 the danger is trifling the complications which may arise are sometimes 

 of a serious nature. Hemorrhage, either primary or secondary, tetanus 

 or lockjaw, abcesses, hernia or rupture, gangrene, and peritonitis are 

 the most serious complications that follow castration. Whichever com- 

 plication arises will require its own special treatment, which I will not 

 go into here, as it will be fully dealt with under another heading. I 

 might add. however, that, generally speaking, the animal, after being 

 castrated, should either be regularly exercised or be allowed freedom, 

 so that it can exercise itself. Drafts of cold air or sudden changes of 

 the temperature are dangerous. The animal should be fed moderately, 

 but of a diet easily digestible. 



