O ASTRO NVSTEJiOK >M J '. 559 



should be carefully thrown, placed on its back, and tliere secured. 

 " Then a crucial incision is to be made at the middle of the lower part 

 of the abdomen, and it should be about a foot-and-a-half in lenj^'th — 

 terminating at the pubis. If the large intestine, forced outwards by 

 the struggles of the animal, appears, it should be carried to one side, 

 when the uterus will soon be seen ; then an opening, corresponding to 

 the other, must be made with the greatest circumspection, so as not to 

 wound the foal ; the membranes are to be opened, the ' waters ' they 

 contain escape, and the young creature is to be immediately removed. 

 The success of the enterprise depends upon the attention paid in order 

 to prevent the death of the Mare ; the more time lost, so the more is 

 the fix'tus weakened ; the less time is there to spare if the Mare is dead, 

 for then it is certain that the Foal will not live longer than a few 

 moments." The umbilical cord was to be ligatured at four or live inches 

 from the body of the Foal ; " after which it is only a question of providing 

 means for rearing the young animal, until it can attend to itself." 



But Hainard points out that notliing is said as to closing and ban- 

 daging the incision, or the after-treatment of the Mare — thus indicating 

 that preserving the Foal only was in view. 



With the Mare or Cow the operation is sometimes attempted in the 

 standing attitude ; but it is obvious that there must be great inconveni- 

 ence and danger in this. It is much better, therefore, to place the 

 Mare, Cow, Sheep, or Goat, on the left side — right side uppermost ; 

 either side sutlices for the Bitch or Sow. 



If the aninuil is narcotised and insensible, then it is not necessary to 

 secure the limbs ; but if it is only partially or not at all unconscious, 

 then means of contention must be adopted, for the safety of the animal 

 as well as the operator. The right hind-leg should be firmly fixed 

 backwards, so as fully to expose the region to be operated upon, t!ie 

 other three limbs being secured together in the ordinary manner. A 

 small animal can be held by one or two assistants. 



The incision, as has been said, is made in the right flank, rather 

 below and in front of the anterior spinous process of the ilium, so as 

 to avoid wounding the circumflex artery — an accident which might 

 embarrass the operator; if this or any other artery is wounded, it must 

 be tied immediately. If there is no great hurry, and the hair is long, 

 this had better be clipped off. The incision should pass downwards 

 and forwards, in the direction of the fibres of the small oblicjue muscle 

 of the abdomen (no muscle should be cut across) ; it ought to extend 

 through the skin to the muscles, and even if it passes into these there 

 is no danger to be apprehendetl. 



The length of the wound will, of course, depend upon the si/e of the 

 animal — for the Mare or Cow, it may be from twelve to fourteen inches. 

 The layers of muscles are to be gently cut tlirough until tlie peritoneum 

 is reached, and into it a small opening is to be made ; but in doing this 

 the greatest care is to be exercised, so as not to wound the viscera. 

 The two first fingers of the left hand are passed through this opening, 

 the back of the hand downwards ; the blade of the probe-pointed 

 bistoury is placed between these fingers, and carried along — cutting 

 through the peritoneum and muscles until the opening is of the same 

 length as that in the skin. An intelligent assistant should be at hand 

 to prevent the escape of the intestines through this large aperture. 



The arm of the operator is now pushed into the abdominal cavity in 

 search of the uterus, which, when found, is brought opposite the inci- 



