<:a s tj:o- n i 's rEiioTuMY'. 667 



cible by the methods Wf have described. Atresia of tlie os sliould be 

 more advrtnta<;eously overcome by vaj^nnal hysterotomy, unless the 

 owner is desirous of savin<; the fietus aud sacrihcin^' the mother. 



The operation is also intlicated when an animal, near tlie termination 

 of pregnancy, is so seriously ill or injured that it cannot live until birth 

 takes place. It may then be most judicious, if the progeny is valuable, 

 to kill the parent and extract the fix'tus at once. If the parent has just 

 died, or is dying, the operation may also be practised. 



In considering the adoption of the operation, the species of animal 

 will, of course, weigh a good deal. Those which can be utilized as food 

 there need be no hesitation in operating upon and sacrificing imme- 

 diately afterwards ; the value of the carcase and the living Calf or 

 Lamb, diminishing very considerably the loss which would otherwise 

 be sustained. With the Mare, as we have said, the Foal may be nmch 

 more valuable than the parent. 



Witli the Bitch and Sow, there is much more prospect of a favourable 

 result from the operation ; and as dithcult parturition in tliem is often 

 so serious, it is advisable to operate in good time. Indeed, in all cases 

 when the operation is once decided upon, no delay should occur in 

 l)ractising it, if it is desired to preserve the progeny and give the parent 

 a chance. 



We have seen that the Foal soon perishes when it cannot be born, 

 and though the ftetus of other animals retains its vitality longer, yet 

 there is also a limit here. Besides, it must be remembered that the 

 strength of the parent is an important factor in the case, and the 

 longer the delay so the less chance is there of a successful result. 

 It is, therefore, most important that the obstetrist lose no time in 

 making his diagnosis, and coming to a conclusion as to the course he 

 must pursue. Embryotomy will, of course, present itself to his mind 

 before gastro-hysterotomy, which is, after all, only to be an ultimate 

 means of saving either mother or progeny, or both, in very exceptional 

 cases. It need scarcely be pointed out that in irreducible uterine hernia, 

 there need be no delay in deciding, and that this condition gives good 

 hope of success — especially in the smaller animals. 



Operation. 



Looking at this operation from a purely surgical point of view, there 

 can be no doubt that, so far as the larger domesticated animals are 

 concerned, it is one of the longest, most fatiguing, and most difficult in 

 veterinary surgery. 



There is also the gi-eat extent of the wound, as well as the opening of 

 the peritoneum, the hicmorrhage, and the escape of blood or liquor 

 anmii into the peritoneal cavity, to be considered. Besides, the animal 

 is, as a rule, in a state of extreme prostration, and the results of 

 mischievous interference may be already apparent before the operation 

 is commenced, or even before the veterinary surgeon is called in. 



The after-treatment of the mother, too, often requires much attention, 

 and is expensive ; and recovery requires a considerable period, as con- 

 valescence is only too often protracted. 



What, however, makes the operation so formidable, if the mother is 

 to be saved, is tlie quadrupedal position of animals ; for, after section 

 of the abdominal parietes. the mass of intestines presses heavily on the 

 part which has been incised ; so that it needs much careful manage- 

 ment and supervision to effect cicatrisation, and to procure such a 



