CASTRA'PION. 



763 



The-blade is next retracted into its sheath and the instrument 

 dropped on to the floor of the vagina. The right index finger is at once 

 passed through the orifice so made into the peritoneal cavity, in order 

 to make certain that all the membranes have been divided. By pressing 

 on and slightly tearing the tissues the middle finger is then introduced 

 alongside the mdex. Only these two fingers should be passed into the 

 peritoneal cavity. 



In order to secure the ovaries it then sufiices (Fig. 321) to thrust 

 forward the base of 



the vagina, allowing 

 the two fingers to 



glide over the body 



of the uterus and 



thence downward 



over its side to the 



point where the 



horns of the uterus 



originate. Here the 



fingers meet the 



ovary,which is readily 



recognisable on ac- 

 count of its size and 



shape (those of a 



walnut). The gland 



is nipped between the 



index and middle 



fingers, and is drawn 



into the vagina 



through the opera- 

 tive opening. 



In order to re- 

 move the ovary the 



operator seizes the 

 ecrascur with the 

 left hand, a loop of chain about an inch long projecting, and slides 

 the instrument along his right forearm. The arm must be retained 

 in the vagina, the fingers grasping the ovary. The organ is slipped 

 into the loop of the i'crascur, which is then manipulated with the left 

 hand until the pedicle is divided. To prevent hsemorrhage the screw 

 of the cci-asein- should only be turned at the rate of about twice a 

 minute. The ovary when separated is left on the floor of the vagina, 

 the fingers being again introduced into the abdominal cavity to secure 

 the second one. This is removed in precisely the same way. 



Fig. 320. — Castration of the cow. First phase. 



