190 



ANIMAL CASTRATION 



J'reijaratiou — An empty alimentary traet is an important aid to spaying'. 

 Food should be withheld for twelve hours previous to the time of operating, 

 and a dose of eastor oil should be adiniiustered. An enema and an emetic 

 (morphin or II-i\I-C given as a preliminary ])art of the anestliesia is amply 

 suffieient) given one hour before tlie operation is good surgical ])ractiee 

 and contributes not only to the safety of the oi)eration, but adds to the 

 comfort of the patient following the operation and hastens convalescence. 



Fig. 182 — Uterine sound. 



Methods uf Opcirdiiuj — There are two methods of operating, viz, : the 

 flank method and the belly method. Ninety per cent of the surgeons prefer 

 and advocate the belly method, while others use the flank method. The 

 author much prefers the belly method. 



Anesthesia — Under no circumstances should this operation be performed 

 except under anesthesia. Tlie dog lajvcs general anesthetics, chloroform, 

 A. C. E., ether, A. C. E. and aromatic spirits of ammonia, easily and safely 

 and skilled assistance is not necessarv for their administration : it being 



i*'ig. ISS — Extei'nal and internal genital organs of bitch. A, Vulva; B, vagin-. : 

 C, nterus; D, U. horns: E. E, ovaries ( diagrammatic I . 



practicable for the surgeon to both anesthetize the patient and perform the 

 operation. If chloroform be used, its administration should be preceded by 

 a hypodermic injection of II-^M-C, morphin or atroi)in. Either the II-M-C, 

 or the moriihiii dtdls the sense of ])ain. and under some circumstances it 

 may lie excusalih' to o])ei'atc without other means for lessening the pain. 



