OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH 115 



lu Fig. 46, the right broad ligament, BL,', is laid out upon 

 the side exposing the right uterine coruu, RUC, while on 

 the left side the ligament is divided at about its center and 

 the posterior portion, BL', is laid out on the flank, while 

 the anterior, BL, is left in its normal position concealing a 

 portion of the cornu, I^UC. Unlike other domesticated 

 animals, the broad ligament is heavily loaded with fat which 

 gives it an appearance very similar to the omentum, but the 

 net-work is far less conspicuous or wanting. The omentum 

 extends back into this region and is in contact with the 

 uterine ligament. -. 



The ovary is indistinct and hidden which renders it diffi- 

 cult to identify directly, and the cornu being covered over 

 by the duplication of the broad ligament, is not readily 

 reached, so that the finger generally comes in contact first 

 with the broad ligament of the uppermost cornu hanging 

 loose in the peritoneal cavity ; engage this between the end 

 of the finger and the abdominal wall and draw it out through 

 the wound, grasp it and continue drawing upon the folds of 

 the ligament, especially upon the median or undermost 

 portion until the naked cornu appears through the opening, 

 seize it and draw out the anterior portion until the ovary 

 follows, then grasp the latter with the thumb and index 

 finger of one hand and the ovarian ligament with the same 

 members of the other and tear the ligament through be- 

 tween them by linear tension. Extend the tear through 

 the broad ligament as high toward its lumbar attachment 

 as is convenient and backward to the neighborhood of the 

 uterine bifurcation. Draw upon the exposed cornu until 

 the point of bifurcation appears, when the other cornu is 

 to be grasped and drawn out through the opening. In 

 young puppies the securing of the second cornu is very 

 difficult and requires great care to prevent the rupture of 

 the first. The object may be facilitated by pressing the 

 upper flank of the bitch downward, thereby greatly dimin- 

 ishing the transverse diameter of the abdomen. 



