ABLATION OF THE MAMMAE 



471 



formed, in order that the general health be protected against 

 troublesome recurrences and complications. 



TECHNIQUE. — The patient must be secured in the 

 dorsal recumbent position. In the mare and in the cow a 

 general inhalation anaesthetic is administered, while in the 

 bitch partial general anaesthesia with subcutaneous injec- 

 tions of morphia will answer. 



Two curved incisions are made along the whole axis of 

 the gland in such a way as to form an elliptical island which 

 contains the teat. The width of the island must vary accord- 

 ing to the amount of redundant skin to be disposed of. The 

 growth at the island is grasped with the tumor forcep and 

 drawn outward while the skin is carefully dissected from it 

 as high as the level of the abdomen to which the gland is 





Pig. 243 — Lines of Incision for Ablation of the Mammseof Cows, 



attached by loose areolar tissue. Before proceeding with 

 the ablation the dissection of the skin must be so complete 

 throughout the whole circumference that the boundary of 

 the gland where it attaches to the abdomen can be plainly 

 seen. The first step in effecting the ablation is to ligate 

 the nutrient artery and the vein. In the mare the artery 

 will be found entering the gland antro-superiorly where its 

 pulsation can be felt after careful search. The vein will be 

 found leaving the gland postero-superiorly. Sometimes 

 there are two, three or even four exit veins, all of which 

 must be ligated to prevent a reflux bleeding from anasto- 



