134 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



the patient should be kept quiet, and not be allowed 'to jump 

 from any height or go up steps for at least three weeks after 

 the operation. 



Hysterotomy. — In this operation, commonly known as 

 "Csesarean Section," the uterus is incised and the contents 

 removed. The subject is prepared in the same way as for 

 oophorectomy, the abdomen being incised and the uterus ex- 

 posed. The latter organ is then drawn to the edge of the 

 wound or withdrawn altogether from the abdomen, being 

 placed on a warm cloth which has been boiled or otherwise 

 rendered aseptic. The uterus is incised in . a longitudinal 

 direction, the situation chosen being one as free from blood 

 vessels as possible, and the foetus or foetuses (with the 

 placenta) are removed. After their withdrawal the interior 

 of the womb must be swabbed out with antiseptic solution, 

 particularly near the wound. The edges of the latter are 

 then drawn together by two or in some cases three rows of 

 sutures ; the first row consists of silkworm gut and is passed 

 right through the wall of the uterus, the second and third are 

 made of silk or fine catgut and are of Lembert's pattern, 

 thus completely burying the first row and so lessening the 

 risk of septic infection. When more than one foetus is 

 present the womb may have to be incised in several places, 

 and this increases the danger. Before this is done an attempt 

 should always be made to pass the foetuses along towards 

 the first wound and extract them in that way. The abdo- 

 minal walls and skin are sutured and treated as in laparo- 

 tomy. The chief sequelae to be dreaded are collapse and 

 peritonitis, and the percentage of successes is very low com- 

 pared with those of hysterectomy. Successful cases have, 

 however, been recorded, pregnancy afterwards taking place" 

 and successful delivery being effected without difficulty.^ 



Hysterectomy and Ovaro - hysterectomy. — By the term 

 " hysterectomy " is meant the removal of the entire uterus, 



' Mathis, "Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics," Vol. II., p. 277. 



