OBSTETRICS AND CASTRATION OF THE BITCH. 193 



•decay. Empty the bladder and the lower bowel, and having 

 washed out the genital passages with an antiseptic solution, the 

 bitch is laid on her back, the legs are held by an assistant, the 

 forelegs together and the hindlegs wide apart. The region where 

 the incision is to be made should be thoroughly washed and the hair 

 removed from the part. Make an incision on the median line of 

 the linea alba from the umbilicus with a sharp-pointed bistoury, 

 and cut into the abdominal cavity, taking care not to injure the 

 intestines or uterus; then insert a probe-pointed bistoury and make 

 the opening larger, cutting toward the pubis; then cut through 

 the omentum; the uterus is now visible and can be lifted out and 

 the foetuses can be felt in the uterus, separated by a constriction, 

 in the body of the horn. Pull the uterus out of the opening as 

 far as possible and have an assistant keep the opening of the ab- 

 dominal wall closed, so as not to allow the intestines to escape, 

 and also to avoid any of the fluids from the uterus falling into 

 the cavity; and by means of a bistoury open the uterus by making 

 an incision through its wall ; the opening should not be any larger 

 than is necessary to get the foetus and the membranes out. It is not 

 necessary to make an incision in the horn over each foetus, but after 

 one foetus is removed the others can be pushed toward the opening 

 and removed through it, taking care to take the membranes also. 

 The uterus is now thoroughly disinfected with corrosive subli- 

 mate solution (1 to 5000) or boric acid, 2 per cent., and by means of 

 a continuous suture, (using the stitch illustrated in Fig. 19, page 

 70), using catgut ligature, then sew up the abdominal muscles by 

 an interrupted suture, using silk. The abdomen is covered with 

 a piece of absorbent cotton soaked in a mild solution of corrosive 

 sublimate, and held in position by an eight-tailed bandage of 

 muslin tied over the back. This has to be dressed daily. The 

 animal must have absolute rest, and be fed on food that is easily 

 digested and not apt to constipate or ferment. Meat-juice or ex- 

 tract is the best, but not vegetables. 



Castration of the Bitch (^Ovariotomy). This operation is gen- 

 erally performed to avoid the trouble that owners have when a bitch 

 is in "heat." and also that they make good housedogs. The 

 operation is a very simple one and not attended by any great 

 danger if the proper antiseptic rules are followed and the animal 

 is not too fat or in "heat." The bitch is given a narcotic or 



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