BITCn .SPAYING 



197 



The nicliiod of restraint for spaying' bitcliew designed, taught and prac- 

 ticed l)y "Farmer" Miles (Fig. ]87) is as follows: A tape muzzle ,(F) is 

 applied. With a strong cord ]ooj)ed a))ove the hocks (li-H) and thrown over 

 a spike or hook (A) in a post or wall (C) the animal is suspended sufficient- 

 ly high for the site of operation to he on a level with the operator's breast. 

 With another strong cord (D) looped above the elbows (E-E), the opera- 

 tor's leg (G) is placed through its loop for the purpose of making suf- 

 ficient downward traction to limit the movement of the animal. In this 

 position the intestines gravitate downward against the diaphragm, facili- 

 tating the location and removal of the ovaries. 



Operative Technic — The incision should be made as exactly in the median 

 line as possible and .pist posterior to the umbilicus. It sliould be one inch 



Fig. IPl — Showing suture for coaptation of tlie peritoneum and abdominal muscles. 



to one and one-half inches long and penetrate all layers of the abdominal 

 wall, care being taken not to injure the bladder with the point of the 

 knife. (Fig. 188). If preferred there is no objection to introducing the 

 wound retractors, in which event if the animal is enipt.y and the light 

 bright — either the horns or the uterus may be seen plainly. AVitli either 

 tissue or hemostatic forceps the horn is picked up and drawn out off the 

 abdominal incision and grasped lietween the index and second finger of 

 'the left hand. With a limited amount of traction on the horn and by 

 pushing in on the belly to bring it as close as possible to the attachment 

 of the ovarj', the latter is readilj* brought through the incision and outside 

 the abdomen, when together with all its capsule and a ])ortion of the broad 

 ligament it is removed with the euiasculator. Unless the bitch is aged or 



