SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 299 



exercise itself. Sudden changes of the temperature are dangerous. 

 The animal should be fed moderately, but of a diet easily digestible. 



CASTRATION OF THE FEMALE. 



The operation of ovariotomy (spaying) should be performed when 

 the heifer is in her prime and in moderate condition not too plethoric 

 and not in heat or pregnant. This operation may be performed in 

 one of two ways — namely, by the flank or by the vagina — each oper- 

 ation 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 partition and her head held by a strong assistant. The legs 

 also must be secured to prevent the animal from kicking. A ver- 

 tical incision should be made in the left flank, 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 the hand and arm should be introduced into the abdominal 

 cavity and the hand directed backward toward the pelvis, searching 

 for the horns of the uterus ; if followed up the ovaries will easily be 

 found. They should then be drawn outward and may be removed 

 either by the ecraseur or by torsion. 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 follows: 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. An incision which should not exceed 3^ inches 

 in length should be made. 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 through the incision into the vagina. 

 Now take the long-handled scissors, specially made for this purpose, 

 with which the thick border of the broad ligament 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. With the right hand torsion is applied and the ovary re- 

 moved. The other ovary may be removed in the same manner. 



What has been said with regard to complications and aftertreat- 

 ment in the case of the male also applies to the female. 



OTHER SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 



Descriptions of other surgical operations not given in this chapter 

 may be found in other parts of this work by reference to the index. 



