QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 237 



long, extending anteriorly from the pubis, cutting through the 

 skin, linea alba and peritoneum with one stroke. Hold the wound 

 open with retractors; locate the uterus and grasp it with forceps. 

 By applying slight traction on the uterine cornua, each ovary may 

 be exposed and removed by torsion or ligating and cutting. Draw 

 both cornua, with the ovaries attached, through the opening and 

 rupture them transversely near their bifurcation. The body of the 

 uterus may be ligated with catgut and the horns removed by cutting. 

 Close the sMn and muscle wound with interrupted sutures. Paint 

 the wound with collodion and apply a body bandage. Remove the 

 skin sutures in about three days and cauterize any exuberant granu- 

 lations that may have formed. Feed sparingly for a few days after 

 operation. 



Describe vaginal ovariotomy in the mare. Mention the accidents that 

 may occur. 



Fast the patient for 24 hours and give a physic before operation. 

 Secure the patient in the stocks, bandage the tail and draw it aside, 

 cleanse the vulva, clitoris, tail and perineal region by scrubbing with 

 soap and water. After washing thoroughly, disinfect the external 

 parts and for a short distance inside the "vulvar lips with a 1 : 1000 

 aqueous sublimate solution. Rinse away the sublimate solution 

 with a 0.6 per cent, solution of sodium bicarbonate, and fill the 

 vulvovaginal canal with the same. The operator 's nails, hands and 

 arms must be scrupulously cleansed and disinfected, and all instru- 

 ments must be sterilized. "Balloon" the vagina by introducing a 

 tepid sterile water or salt solution into it. When ballooned prop- 

 erly, pass the hand with a sheathed knife and push the blade forward 

 through the vagtual wall and peritoneum, a little above and to one 

 side of the os uteri. Remove the knife, reintroduce the hand, and 

 by careful manipulation push the hand tlirough the incision and 

 locate the ovaries. Pass the ecraseur alongside of the arm, carry 

 it to an ovary and place the chain over the same. Tighten the chain 

 and cut the ovary free, removing same with the inserted hand. Re- 

 peat the same on the other ovary. Keep the patient quiet for five 

 or six days. 



Dangers: Incision in the vaginal wall may be carried into the 

 rectum, iliac arteries, posterior aorta, or uterine cavity. The 

 incision may not penetrate the peritoneum and thus embarrass the 

 operator by forming a large cavity between the vaginal and peri- 

 toneal walls. Inexperienced operators have removed a ball of fsces 

 in mistake for an ovary. By faulty technic, infection may be car- 

 ried into the peritoneum and produce fatal peritonitis. 

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