132 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



haemorrhage has ceased, and afterwards using an antiseptic 

 solution as long as may be considered necessary. 



Gray obtained permanent success in one case by performing 

 laparotomy, replacing the prolapsed part and attaching it to the 

 abdominal wall with sutures. ^ 



Oophorectomy and Ovariotomy. — This operation, commonly 

 spoken of as " spaying," is performed for certain diseased con- 

 ditions of the genital organs and also with the object of pre- 

 venting pregnancy and oestrum. Its effect upon the latter is 

 by no means absolutely certain, as upon several occasions we 

 have observed signs of cestrum in bitches and cats whose ovaries 

 have been wholly removed, the animals even copulating with 

 the male.i Leeney has also observed the same.^ The term 

 " oophorectomy " is applied when the ovaries are healthy, and 

 the term "ovariotomy" when tiiey are diseased. 



Animals may be operated upon at any age, but from six to 

 twelve months for the bitch, and from three to nine months for 

 the cat, seem to be the most favourable. The method of 

 operating is as follows : — 



Having previously had the abdominal wall around the seat 

 of incision carefully cleansed and shaved, a pad of antiseptic 

 material is put over the part and the animal placed on the 

 operating table to be anaesthetised ; when unconscious the 

 patient is turned over and fixed on its back with the limbs 

 well spread apart. The antiseptic pad is removed, the skin 

 being lightly scrubbed with ether and again washed with anti- 

 septic lotion. A longitudinal incision of from about half-an- 

 inch to an inch long is made through the skin and muscular 

 tissue on or close to the median line just behind the umbilicus, 

 all blood vessels being carefully taken up with artery forceps 

 before the peritoneum is pierced. The latter is done with the 

 point of a scalpel, the incision being completed with the aid 

 of a director. At this stage a blunt probe or flexible catheter 



1 "Veterinary E«oord," Vol. XII., p. 1.5. 

 '"■ "Veterinary Journal," Vol. XXXI., p. 11. 



