SPAYING 211 



Rectal feeding must be maintained for the first 

 week. Then milk, beef tea, or very finely chopped 

 meat for two weeks, after which the ordinary diet 

 may be allowed. 



Ovariotomy and Ovariohysterectomy 



The objects of these operations are either to pre- 

 vent pregnancy or to remove a diseased ovary or 

 uterus. The most favorable age, where sterilization 

 is the object, is from six to twelve months. 



Preparation. — First perform laparotomy as hereto- 

 fore directed, making the incision just posterior to 

 the umbilicus and extending backwards for about one 

 and one-half inches. 



Technic. — Elevate the table so that the hind quar- 

 ters are raised considerably. This allows the viscera 

 to slide forward out of the operator's way. With 

 the retractors (blunt aneurysm needles answer 

 most admirably), pull the abdominal' wound open, 

 locate the cornua of the uterus by sight, and seize 

 one of them with the forceps. Elevate the ovary by 

 pulling on the horn, place a ligature of aseptic silk 

 above and below the ovary, and excise with the 

 scissors. Remove the other ovary by the same 

 method, and close the laparotomy wound and dress 

 as described previously. It will be noticed that at 

 no stage of the operation are the operator's fingers 

 introduced into the abdominal cavity, and that the 

 intestines are not manipulated in any way. 



In ovariohysterectomy, after locating the cornua, 

 the uterus and ovaries are pulled up into the wound 

 and the uterus ligated at the bifurcation, taking 

 care to include the utero-ovarian arteries. Ligatures 

 are then placed below each ovary, which are clipped 

 away from their pedicles with the scissors. The 

 broad ligament is then stripped away from the horns 

 with the fingers' and the uterus amputated anterior 



