SPAYING HEIFERS 107 



in the swab bucket I reintroduce it and follow the 

 broad ligament to get the right ovary. Sometimes 

 the tension has brought this within two inches of 

 the surface and sometimes it is very hard to find 

 (the weak point of the recumbent operation) . I 

 break down the broad ligament by passing the 

 fingers through it and gradually bring it to the 

 surface. This breaking through the broad liga- 

 ment is very wearing on the skin of the fingers, 

 soaked as it is, and the ligament cuts nearly to the 

 bone on the first and fourth fingers near the distal 

 joint. If the ligament is tough it needs shredding 

 with the scalpel held in the left hand ; it is rather 

 risky to transfer the ovary to the left as it snaps 

 back if the heifer struggles. Most of them, how- 

 ever, come out on a shred. I never introduce an 

 instrument into the cavity, feeling that in rough, 

 hasty, routine work there is danger in so doing. 

 Finally I shred the ovaries off, using an instru- 

 ment if necessary. 



Sutures. — One in the aponeurosis of the ex- 

 ternal oblique and two in the skin — all three in- 

 terrupted. I use common string cut in suitable 

 lengths, soaking it all day in a strong coal tar 



