.364 SWINE PRACTICE 



ful examination of each of tliem before proceeding with the opera- 

 tion. 



HYSTEROTOMY 



If live fetuses are found in the gravid uterus and there are no indi- 

 cations of injury or infection it is advisable to perform hysterotomy. 

 If both horns are gravid, the one on the side in which the abdominal 

 opening has been made should be brought onto the surface that has 

 previously been protected with clean cloths. An incision about six 

 inches in length is made longitudinally on the dorsum over the fetus 

 nearest the uterus. The gravid horn must be maintained in such a 

 position that none of the fluids or contents of the uterus will contami- 

 nate the incisions of the operative wound or the peritoneum. All 

 fetuses in the same horn can by manipulation be removed from the 

 one opening. All fragments of placental membranes must be re- 

 moved. It is sometimes possible by careful manipulation to remove 

 the fetuses from the opposite horu through the one opening, but if 

 such is found impossible the operation should be repeated on the op- 

 posite horn. Before suturing the uterine incision all fluids or frag- 

 ments cf placenta must be removed. The incision should be closed 

 with Lembert sutures, using catgut. The operative wound should be 

 painted with tincture of iodin and the peritoneum sutured with cat- 

 gut. The skin should be sutured with heavy silk or linen and the 

 surface coated with collodion or pine tar. 



If live pigs are delivered they should not he permitted to suckle 

 for several hours. 



Hj^sterotomy patients should be placed in clean, comfortable quar- 

 ters and fed sparingly. 



HYSTERECTOMY 



If on examination of the gravid uterus the fetuses are found to be 

 putrid in one or both horns and there is danger of septic infection, 

 it is advisable to perform hysterectomy. The same general plan of 

 procedure that has been described for hysterotomy should be fol- 

 lowed. Special precaution should be taken to prevent leaking of any 

 of the content of the gravid horn into the body cavity. After the 

 gravid horn has been brought to the surface two pairs of strong for- 

 ceps are clamped about one inch apart upon the broad ligament ad- 

 jacent to the ovary. The tissues between the forceps are severed by 

 means of scissors and the remaining attachments of the broad liga- 



