38 SPRING-TIME SURGERY 



cathartics of any kind; do not starve the patient 

 and do not upset the intestinal canal by a radical 

 change of food. 



A bowel that is moderately distended with in- 

 gesta, free from all forms of irritation, in nor- 

 mal and perfect physical and physiological con- 

 dition, is the one that is not going to be upset by 

 any amount of clea7i manipulation in the abdo- 

 men and surely is not the one to prolapse most 

 frequently. Peritoneal irritability explains in a 

 large degree prolapses of the omentum. The 

 omentum has been aptly called the "policeman of 

 the belly," searching out, as it does, localized 

 peritoneal disturbances, and through some power 

 of its own going to such areas and attempting to 

 cover them over by adhesions, where there is in- 

 jury to or loss of the peritoneal tissue. Thus it is 

 apt to wander down the inguinal canal at inop- 

 portune times. 



Rectal Examination. — Prior to the operation 

 this is not to be thought of as a routine practice. 

 In animals that have had one testicle removed and 

 a diagnosis as to the side is wanted, there is a 

 better way of proceeding than by rectal examina- 



