84 VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 



Caesarian Operation. 



It sometimes happens, that it is impossible to- 

 remove a foetus through the natural opening, and if it 

 be considered necessary to attempt to save the lives of 

 both mother and foetus, the " dssartan Operation" 

 sometimes technically termed " Hysterotomia," or 

 "Gastro-hysterotomy," has to be performed. 



There are two situations in which to operate. 



When the parent is useless, it can be performed as. 

 follows, viz : Throw the patient on her back ; make a 

 crucial incision in the inferior aspect of the abdominal 

 wall ; bring the uterus to this opening ; incise its walls^ 

 and remove the foetus. 



The other situation is in the right flank. The- 

 operation is a serious one, and while it is often 

 successful in the Bitch, it is fraught with much gravity 

 in the case of the Mare or Cow. 



Operation. — Have the animal gently and carefully- 

 cast on the left side. Take the right hind limb out of the 

 hobble and stretch it gently but firmly backwards ; give-, 

 the rope attached to it a turn round some fixture, and 

 the end to an assistant to hold ; then make an 

 incision about six inches long, beginning from about 

 three and a half to four inches below the spine of the 

 ilium, cutting obliquely downwards and forwards. 

 Care must be taken to prevent injury to any part of 

 the intestines when making the incision, and for this 

 reason cut through the skin and muscles first ; puncture 

 the peritoneum with a probe-pointed bistoury, cutting 

 from within outwards. Bring the uterus to the 

 external wound, puncture it, and, with a probe-pointed 



