304 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



against microbial! invasion, to support and immobilize the 

 abdominal parietes and to prevent the patient from tearing 

 the sutures with the teeth. Chemical antiseptics are not em- 

 ployed in dogs, even under the bandage, on account of the 

 possibility of licking them should the bandage come off. 



AFTER-CARE. — A clean wound will require no further 

 attention until the eighth day, when removal of the stitches 

 becomes necessary. The patient, by gradual stages, is al- 

 lowed to return to its normal diet and is given the freedom 

 of a small kennel. Running about, especially during the 

 first few days, is harmful. 



ACCIDENTS AND SEQUELS. — ( i ) Haemorrhage 

 from the ovarian artery of onelDr of both ovaries sometimes * 

 occurs. It is not rare for the peritoneal cavity to fill quite 

 full of blood when some error in ablation has been made, e. 

 g., when in pregnant bitches or bitches in heat no ligatures 

 were applied-to the- arteries. When the bleeding is noticed 

 before the wound has been sutured, attempt may be made to 

 again bring up the end of the cornu and apply a ligature 

 around the bleeding place, but when the wound is either 

 partially or completely closed before the accident is noticed 

 no attempt should be made to arrest it. Between the two 

 evils of prolonging the operation while the wound is reopened 

 and the vessels ligated, and that of trusting to spontaneous 

 arrest, by all means choose the latter. The application of 

 cold compresses over the abdomen and loins is helpful. 



(2). Hernia is much less common in bitches than in cats, 

 but it does sometimes occur when the muscles, on account of 

 improper suturing or sepsis, have not united while at the same 

 time firm union of the skin promptly occurred. The pre- 

 vention consists of making the incision to one side of the 

 linea alba, of effectually suturing the peritoneum and mus- 

 cles, and of preventing sepsis by cleanly methods. A cure 

 can only be effected by a radical herniotomy. 



(3) Prolapsus of the bowels is a common occurrence 

 during the operation, especially on the unansesthetized ani- 

 mal. By straining a whole mass of small intestines some- 

 times press out through the incision to the dismay of the 

 surgeon. The accident, however, is more annoying than 

 serious, but it should be promptly met by returning them 

 before the volume is too large and before they have been un- 

 necessarily infected. 



Delayed prolapse may occur during the first three days 

 from the bitch tearing out the stitches with the. teeth, and as 

 the accident may not be promptly discovered fatal results 



