286 VETERINARY SUEGICAL OPERATIONS 



furcation is reached, then it is deflected to one side, where 

 the ovary is soon found. The organ is easily recognized 

 by its firm texture and undulated surface. The size may 

 vary somewhat. Generally it is the size of a walnut but in 

 certain pathological conditions it may assume the size of a 

 base ball or even a cocoanut. 



Fifth Step. — Ablation. — When found the ecraseur is 

 passed into the peritoneal cavity through the incision, par- 

 alleling the arm until the chain loop reaches the level of the 

 hand. The fingers are now passed through the chain loop 

 and the ovary drawn into it, and then as soon as the chain 

 rests safely over the organ the handle of the ecraseur is taken 

 in the left hand and worked as rapidly as possible in order 

 to effect a hurried ablation. The crushing of the attach- 

 ments always provokes some severe straining which rapid 

 ablation reduces to the minimum. The ablated ovary is then 

 deposited on the floor of the vagina and the same steps per- 

 formed on the opposite side. 



The operation is completed by simply bringing out the 

 two ovaries as the ecraseur is withdrawn. The perforation 

 of the vagina is not sutured nor submitted to any form of 

 after-treatment. 



AFTER-CARE. — The patient is kept in the standing po- 

 sition on a limited diet for twenty-four hours and then turned 

 into the loose box for ten days, at which time, in the absence 

 of complications, she is ready for work. Protracted rest is 

 unnecessary. In fact, rest and good care that would tend to 

 improve the general, health and spirits, especially in adults 

 where the kicking is due as much to habit as to disease, is 

 apt to impel viciousness rather than diminish it. It is advis- 

 able to return the patient to good hard work and to keep her 

 everlastingly busy until the habit is gradually abandoned. 



SEQUELS and ACCIDENTS.— Septic peritonitis is 

 the most likely complication, but it is indeed rare when hands 

 and instrument have been properly cleaned preparatory to 

 the operation. Amongst the accidents are incision of the 

 bowels, especially the rectum, caused by not following the 

 advice to make the incision near the os uteri, or to the caecum 

 by failing to purge and diet the subject before attempting 

 the operation. Prolapse of the bowels should not be 

 feared, as this accident has never been reported nor has it 

 ever occurred to the author's knowledge. 



