OVARO-HYSTERECTOMY. 1 35 



and the term "ovaro- hysterectomy" is employed when the 

 ovaries also are included. The operation is occasionally per- 

 formed for the same purpose as oophorectomy. It may be 

 necessary in some cases of dystokia, or where dystokia is to 

 be feared, as when the female of a small breed has become 

 pregnant by a male of some larger variety. The patient is 

 prepared in the same manner as for oophorectomy, the in- 

 cision in the abdomen being of sufficient size to allow the 

 gravid uterus (if this condition is present) to be withdrawn. 

 Two catgut or boiled silk ligatures are placed above each 

 ovary, and two others around the body of the uterus just 

 below the junction of the two horns. The parts between are 

 excised, and the uterus and contents lifted otit of the abdomen, 

 the ligatures effectually preventing any of the contents from 

 escaping into the latter. The stump of the uterus is carefully 

 disinfected and returned into the abdomen. It is not neces- 

 sary to in any way fix the stump to the external wound. 

 The external wound is sutured and treated exactly as already 

 described {see laparotomy). 



The prognosis of this operation, if the patient is not too 

 poor or exhausted, is excellent,^ recovery being very rapid. 



As after oophorectomy, cestrum has been known to occur and 

 even copulation to take place when the two ovaries and the 

 whole of the uterus as far as just above the junction of the 

 horns with the body have been cleanly taken away.' 



1 "Journal of ComiDarative Pathology and Therapeutics, " Vol. X., p. 17^) ; Vol., XI., 

 p. 252. "Veterinary Record," Vol. XI., pp. 403 and (5.52. 



