312 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



and antiseptic precautions; second, a free and boldy made incision; 

 third, the avoidance of undue pulling or tension upon the spermatic 

 cord; fourth, free drainage, which can be maintained, provided the 

 original incision has been properly made. 



CASTR.\TION OF THE FEMALE. 



Ovariotomy (spaying).— The operation should be performed 

 when the cow is in her prime and giving her greatest flow of milk, 

 care being taken that she is in good health and moderate condition, 

 not too plethoric; or, on the other hand, she must not be at all 

 anemic, and also that she be not in heat or pregnant. This opera- 

 tion may be performed in one of two ways— namely, by the flank or 

 by the vagina — each operation 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 fi-om 

 kicking. A vertical 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 circum- 

 flex artery Avhich 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 arm into the abdominal 

 cavity and direct the hand backward toward the pelvis, searching 

 for the horns of the uterus. Follow them up and the ovaries Avill 

 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 comjDlicated and requires spe- 

 cial 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. Make an incision which should not exceed 31 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 care- 

 fully 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 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. Now commence 



