Animal Castration 191 



The ovaries are decidedly lobulated and closely resemble grape 

 cluster, being suspended to the right and left of the vertebral 

 column near the median line of the body. Fig. 170 illustrates the 

 external as well as internal generative organs of the sow. 



The abdominal wall in the flank region is quite thick and con- 

 tains much fat. This fat is encountered between the skin and the 

 external oblique abdominal muscle. More fat is encountered in 

 mature sows than in younger hogs. The skin is dense and tough 

 in consistency, while the external and internal oblique muscles and 

 peritoneum are comparatively thin and delicate in conformation. 

 The above description applies equally as well to the belly wall at 

 site of spaying operation except that the wall in the latter region 

 is somewhat thinner. 



Methods of Operating — There are two standard methods, viz. : 

 flank, and median line or "belly." Each have their advantages 

 and disadvantages ; however, taking everything into consideration 

 the author greatly prefers the flank method. 



Operative Technique (Flank Method) — The animal should be 

 properly secured as illustrated in Figs. 166, 167 and 168, and 

 placed on the right side. Remove hair from flank by clipping 

 with scissors. Wash hands of operator and left flank of animal 

 with Lysol or Cresol Compound U. S. P. in the strength of one 

 tablespoonful to each quart of water. With hook knife make 

 oblique incision one inch to an inch and a half long, beginning 

 high in flank, one to two inches posterior (behind) the last rib. 

 This incision should run downward and backward at an angle of 

 45 degrees (see O, Fig. 168). The incision should penetrate skin, 

 subcutaneous connective tissue, fat and external and internal 

 oblique abdominal muscles. By this we mean all tissues down to 

 the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) . The peritoneum 

 is now carefully punctured with the point of knife, after which 

 stretch or enlarge the incision sufficiently to admit index finger 

 of the left hand. With this finger inside of abdomen the left (up- 

 per) ovary is located by passing the finger backward near fungus 

 of bladder and upward toward vertebral column (backbone). The 

 ovary can be readily distinguished from the other inter-abdominal 

 viscera by its peculiar feel, as it consists of hard lobules arranged 

 in cluster form similating small grapes. The left ovary and its 



