VAGINAL OVARIECTOMY IN THE COW 289 



tain them in a safe condition the knife blade between inter- 

 vals of use is kept immersed in pure phenol and the ecraseur 

 head in the strong mercuric chloride solution. It may be 

 repeated here that although this solution will unpolish the 

 metal it does no permanent harm to the instrument and the 

 safe sterilization maintained thereby easily compensates for 

 this trivial objection. When the mercuric chloride solution 

 becomes bloody or accidentally dirty it is replaced with a 

 new supply. The hands are frequently rinsed in the same 

 solution used for the ecraseur. 



A review of these steps shows the reader that the anti- 

 sepsis is not complicated, only one pail of real antiseptic 

 liquid being required, as it is utilized for the triple purpose 

 of washing the vulva, rinsing the hands and immersing the 

 ecraseur. The phenol for the knife is kept in a salt-mOuthed 

 bottle. 



When the operator is compelled to assist in securing the 

 animals a clean pair of gloves should be worn between oper- 

 ating intervals to prevent the hands from becoming repeat- 

 edly soiled with dirty ropes, stocks, hairs, excrement, etc. 



TECHNIQUE. — The technique varies from that of the 

 mare operation only in the use of the vaginal speculum. In 

 the mare some pains is always taken to cause a dilatation of 

 the vagina by filling it full of liquids, while in the cow the 

 dilatation is effected at once, without ceremony, with the 

 vaginal speculum or with a special stretcher. Although it is, 

 of course, possible to perform the operation without the spec- 

 ulum, it is nevertheless too helpful to be omitted. 



After the patient has been secured and the antiseptic 

 washing completed the speculum is inserted and screwed 

 open. This dilates the vaginal tube anteriorly, stretching it 

 at the seat of incision. The knife is taken from the phenol 

 bottle, rinsed in the pail of clean water to wash off the 

 caustic coating, and then passed with the right-hand to the 

 anterior vaginal wall. The blade is pressed firmly against 

 the wall just above and near to the os uteri and the vagina 

 incised by one quick thrust. With a little experience the 

 force of the thrust can be gauged so as to make a complete 

 through-and-through incision without endangering the ab- 

 dominal organs. The incision is enlarged by forcing the 

 fingers one after the other through the opening until the 

 whole hand is admitted. The speculum may be removed 

 after the incision has been made. The search for the ovaries 

 and their ablation does not differ from that of the mare 

 operation (see page 182). 



