CESAREAN SECTION IN THE SOW 



When performed at the right time, there are few 

 operations that are productive of proportionately 

 greater profitable results than this. In every commu- 

 nity where hog raising is conducted there are certain 

 seasons when dystokia in sows is very prevalent, and in 

 many instances it is not to be ascribed to mismating or 

 to any one definite causative factor. In the experience 

 of every general practitioner in such localities, there 

 are times when his skill and patience are frequently 

 tried in handling cases of dystokia where he is un- 

 decided as to the feasibility of doing the cesarean 

 operation. When he does decide to operate as a last 

 resort and the result is unsatisfactory because of long 

 protracted labor or septicemia occasioned by injuries 

 to the vaginal and uterine membranes, inflicted with 

 various appliances in the hands of laymen in their at- 

 tempts to deliver the fetus, he is apt to view the situ- 

 ation, as frequently do his clients — that the cesarean 

 operation in the sow is impracticable. When this oper- 

 ation is pei'formed as soon as it is evident that serious 

 dystokia is in existence and when the genitalia have 

 not been injured and infected as a result of manipu- 

 lation with obstetrical instruments, recovery should 

 obtain in at least 75 per cent of the eases operated 

 upon. 



Indications for operating are cases of dystokia where 

 active labor is not productive of delivery within 12 

 to 18 hours after travail has begun. As soon as it is 

 evident that serious dystokia exists in any given ease, 



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