CHAPTER XVI. 



OPERATIONS ON THE FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS. 



Amputation of Prolapsed Vagina. — In cases of prolapse of 

 the vagina it is customary to try various remedies, sucii as 

 the application of a pessary and sutures, together with certain 

 internal remedies, before resorting to amputation, the object 

 being to get recovery without injuring the vaginal walls. 

 When, however, all hope of permanent return has been given 

 up the prolapsed parts have to be excised. The operation is 

 not a difficult one, and rarely gives rise to bad sequelse if per- 

 formed properly and the animal is not very much exhausted. 



The patient is secured on the operating table in the abdo- 

 minal position, or may be held securely in the standing posture 

 by an assistant. The parts, having been thoroughly cleansed 

 with some anti.septic solution, are dried carefully with cotton- 

 wool and painted with a five per cent, solution of cocaine 

 (unless the patient is already under the influence of some 

 general anzesthetic). Amputation is performed either by the 

 clam and iron, the ecraseur, or the ligature and knife, accord- 

 ing to the will of the operator. 



Judging from several experiences of each way the ligature 

 seems to be the best if it can be used, the ecraseur being the 

 least preferable on account of the amount of laceration caused. 

 In all cases care must be taken not to include the opening of 

 the urethra in the part excised. 



After-treatment consists in plugging the vagina with wadding, 

 or syringing with solution of liq. ferri perchlor. and water until 



