OVARIOTOMY IN THE' BITCH. 115 



toneal cavity ; engage this between the end of the finger and 

 the abdominal wall and draw it out through the wound, 

 grasp it and continue drawing upon the folds of the liga- 

 ment, especially upon the median or undermost portion until 

 the naked cornu appears through the opening, seize it and 

 draw out the anterior portion until the ovary follows, then 

 grasp the ovary firmly with the thumb and index finger of 

 one hand and the ovarian ligament with the same members 

 of the other hand and tear the ligament through between 

 them by linear tension. Extend the tear through the 

 broad ligament as high toward its lumbar attachment as 

 is convenient and backward to the neighborhood of the uter- 

 ine bifurcation. Draw upon the exposed cornu until the bi- 

 furcation appears, when the other cornu is to be grasped and 

 drawn out through the opening. In young puppies the 

 securing of the .second cduna is very difficult and requires 

 great care to prevent its rupture. Thg object may be facili- 

 tated by pressing the upper flank of the bitch downward, 

 thereb}' greatly diminishing the transver.se diameter of the 

 abdomen. 



The succeeding operation, 30, avoids this difficulty in a 

 large measure. Should the distal cornu be ruptured and 

 with its ovary drop away from the operator, it becomes nec- 

 essary to turn the animal over and make a second incision 

 on the opposite side, .somewhat further forward. When the 

 second cornua has been secured draw it out as far as practica- 

 ble and holding it tense in.sert an index finger along it until 

 the ovary is reached, which is recognized by its slightly 

 greater size and density succeeding the brief neck represent- 

 ing the Fallopian tube between the end of the cornu and 

 ovary which are slightly larger, while beyond it, can be felt, 

 the ovarian ligament. Engage the ligament between the end 

 of the index finger and the abdominal' wall, and with a firm 

 and vigorous movement, using the finger end and nail as a 

 curette, rupture the ovarian ligament by drawing the finger 

 toward the incision, and with the aid of tension upon the 



