CHAPTER X\'I 



OPERATIONS ON THE OMENTUM, LIVER, SPLEEN, AND 



PANCREAS 



The Omentum. 



The omentum is frequently invol\'ed in cases of hernia, and 

 may e\'en be the onl)' organ found in the sac. In \\'ounds of 

 the lower portion of the abdominal wall it is ver)- apt to be 

 the first to protrude. In appearance it looks like a \\hite 

 fatty mass. If there is any diff^cult^• about returning it, or if 

 it is at all in the \\ a}' or soiled, the protruding portion may 

 be excised without the slightest fear. In fact, if it is at all 

 soiled, this is by far the safer plan, as it is a structure which 

 does not readih- lend itself to antiseptic cleansing. 



In one case which came under the author's observation the whole of the 

 omentum was removed, and the patient did not seem in any way to suffer 

 from its disappearance. 



Operation. — Under the usual antiseptic precautions (see 

 p. 158) any vessels in the line of excision are secured by 

 ligature, the parts below are removed either by scissors or 

 scalpel, and the remainder returned into the abdomen. The 

 abdominal wall is then treated as alread}' described under 

 laparotoni)'. 



The Liver. 



Practically, the surgery- of the liver in the dog and cat is 

 confined to the occasional removal of a tumour which has 



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