CESAREAN SECTION IN THE SOW 135 



Rectal administration of chloral hydrate in dilutions 

 of one part of chloral hydrate to 12 parts of tepid 

 water, given in quantites of one drachm for each 100 

 pounds weight, will produce sufficient stupefaction to 

 enable the surgeon to do a satisfactory operation. In 

 a few cases a solution of chloral hydrate is not re- 

 tained, even when diluted with 16 parts of water. 

 This may be due to a supersensitive rectal mucosa or 

 a lax sphincter ani, and difficulties so encountered 

 may be overcome by clamping the anus with a pair 

 of forceps, thus preventing escape of the solution of 

 chloral hydrate until a marked anesthetic effect is evi- 

 dent. As soon as there is sufficient soporific effect mani- 

 fested the forceps should be removed to permit evacua- 

 tion of the contents of the rectum, and in cases where it 

 would seem necessary, the employment of an enema for 

 the removal of any excessive amount of cliloral hydrate 

 is advisable. 



Restraint. — If possible, the subject is placed upon 

 some sort of improvised operating table (a barn door 

 supported by tressels or boxes answers the purpose 

 very well) and "hog tied" leaving either the right or 

 left flank exposed for surgical invasion. 



Equipment. — One should have at hand sterile towels 

 or sheets, two or three curved needles threaded with 

 silk, three or four curved cambric pointed needles 

 threaded with No. 1 chromic gut, a scalpel, Kelley 

 forceps, six or eight pairs of 8 or 10 inch compression 

 forceps, scissors, absorbent cotton, sterile gauze, and 

 a basin containing any suitable antiseptic solution such 

 as a one per cent solution of Liquor Cresolis Com- 

 positus. 



Preparation of the Field of Operation. — The hair 

 should be clipped from a liberal area in the region 



