DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 



777 



The second stands at the left shoulder ; the third pushes at the 

 left haunch, and the fourth pulls the tail to the right. To avoid 

 delay, it is well to have another assistant to hold the instruments, 

 sponges, towels, sutures, etc. The incision should be made from 

 the point of puncture described for the relief of hoven, directly 

 downward, for about six inches, through the skin and outer layer 

 of muscles. The inner layer and peritoneum must then be divided, 

 when the rumen will protrude. (Fig. 1026.) 



Fig. 1026. — Rumen Exposed in Rumenotomy. 



A small opening/of half an inch, is then made in the wall of the 

 rumen, at the center of the protruded mass. The edge of this open- 

 ing must be grasped at once by a hook, in the hand of an assistant 

 on each side. The opening must then be dilated by gently pulling 

 on the hooks, while the operator lengthens the orifice in the rumen, 

 by cutting upwards and downwards, taking care not to make it as 

 large as the muscular opening. The tension on the hooks causes 

 the walls of the rumen to overlap the edges of the external opening, 

 and great care must be exercised to prevent any of the contents of 

 the rumen from getting into the abdominal, cavity — an accident 

 which would cause the death of the animal. 



As the rumen is opened the contents roll outward in response 

 to the pressure from within. The hand is introduced, and the 

 greater part of the contents removed. A small quantity of soft 

 material should be left. for the stomach to contract upon. It is 

 advisable to ascertain the state of the reticulum and omasum, to 

 determine the necessity for further medication. Some practitioners 

 pour a stimulant cathartic dose through the orifice, but this, if neces- 



