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40 THE SPAYING CF COWS. 



^ in bur teeth, and we cat the wdnkle at one stroke through the middle j the wrinkle hivingf been 

 >> suffered, to go dowii, a separatipn-of the bide is presented of dofficient length to^uable us toiDtro- 

 /; duce the hand ; thereupon we separate Hie edl^s of the Mde with fli^ thumb and forefiugeT of the 

 left hand, and iii like manner! -v^e cnt through the abdomintl muscles, tlie ilidx (sligbfly obliquely/ 

 an^ the ZumiAtzT- [across) for the distance of a centiinetre. from the lower extremity of the incisiai 

 made in the hide ; this done, vmed with the straight bistoury, we msike apnncture of the perito- i 

 neuMat the upper extremity Of the wound; we then intiroance the buttoned bistouryt and move it 

 ribliquely from above to (h^ lower part, np to the ierniination of the incision made in the sbdomin^ 

 muscles. The flauk being opened, we introduce the right haB(3 into the abdomen and direct it along 

 the'rightsidedftBe'cavity of the- pelvis, behind the eul de saurumen (pauneb) and undemeatli the 

 rectum, where we find the eiimei de Vjiterm (miitrix) j after we have asceitaiaed the position of 

 these viscera, we search fot the ourifres (drgansofrepi'OdHClioh)j which are at the extremity rf the 

 come-f, and when we have found them, we seize them between the thumb and forefinger, detach [ 

 them complete^ from the ligameilts that keep the'nr in their place, poll lightly, Separating the coi'd, 

 and the vessels (uterine or falloji^an tube) at their -place of anion with the" Ovarium, by means of the 

 nail of tlie thninb and forefinger, "which presents itself at the point of to^ch ? in fact we break the , 

 cord ^d bring away the ovarium: We th^ fetroduce- ag^in the -hand in the abdominal "cavity^ i 

 and we proceed in the ,same manner to extract the' ofBer'ovaria. This operation terminated, we, 

 bythe assistance of the'needle, pMee a suture of three or four double threads waxed at an equal 

 distance, and at two centimetres^ or a little le83 frOm the lips of the wonna.-passing it through the 

 divided tissues, we movefrom the left hand wftb the piece of thread ; having reached that pointf- 

 we fasten with a double knc^t, we place the seam in the intervals of the thread from the right, and 

 as we approftdh the' lips of 'the wound, we fiiSfen by a simple knot, with a boTr, being carefU not 

 to close top tightly the lower part of the seam, so'that the «up]puration which may be established in 

 the wound, may be ahje to escape. TMs operation effected, we oovernp the wound with a pledget 

 of lint kept in its plape by three or four threads passed' through the stitches, and all is completed,' 

 and the cow is then led back to the stable. ' 



"It happens, sonietimeS, that in cutting the muscles, of w. ichwe have before spoken, we Out 

 one or two Of the arteiies which bleed so much, that there is aeeeSBity for a ligature before open- 

 ing the peritoneal sac, because, if this precaution be omitted, blood will escape into the abdomen, 

 and may occasion the most serious consequences.' 



CAtLt iFTEIl THE OPERATION. 



The regimen that we prescribe during the first eight days ^following the operation, is a light 

 diet, and a soothing lukewarm draught ; if the weather should be fcol'di we cover the cow with a 

 woollen covering. We must prevent the animal from licking the wound and iVom rubbing it 

 against other bodies. The third day after the operation, we bathe morning and evening about the 

 wound, with Waterof mallows lukewarm, and in default of tliis, we anoint it with a-salve of hdg'fi' 

 lard, and we administer an emollient glyster during three or four days. 



" Eight days after the operation we take away the bandag^e, the lint, the fastenings and the 

 threads ; the wound is at Uiat time completely cicatrized, as we have observed that a reunion takes 

 place ahnost always by the first in'teniibn, as we have Only observed suppuration in' three cows, 

 and then it -was vety ErGght.' In this cfise We must use a -slight pi-essure above the pait where the 

 suppuration is established, so as to cause the pus to leave it, and if it Continues more than five or 

 six days, we mast supply emollients by alcolized water, or chloridized> especially if it he in sum- 

 mer. We then bring the COW gradnally back to her ordinary nourishment. 

 < " We have remarked in some oows a swelling of the body a short time after being spayed, a state 

 y that we have attribnted to the introduction of cold air into the abdomen during the operation ; but 

 this 'derangement has generally ceased within tvrenty-four hours. If the contrary should occur, we 

 administer one or two sudorific draaghts i such as wine, Warm eider, or a hmf glass of brandy, 

 in a quart of wBtin water ; treatment which suffices in -a short time to re.eBtablish a bealtby state 

 of the belly, the animal at the Same-time being- protected by two coverings of wool. .: 



" The operation which we have been descnbiiig, ou0ht to be performed as we have said before, 

 thirty to forty days ailer calving,:upon a cow whibh has had her Uiird or fourth calf, so that we may 

 . have a greater abundance of milk. The only precaution to be observed before d.e operation, is, 

 that on the preceding evening we should not give'sooopions a meal as Bsnsd, and to operate in the 

 Biorning beiore the animal has fed, so that the operator shall not find any obstacle from the primary 

 digestive organs, especially the paunch, which, daring its state of ordinary fullness, might prersnt 

 operating with faeiHiy. . . 



OOKCLHSIDN. 



"From what has preceded, it ig fixed and irrefutable,—!. That spaying; iiduees permanency 

 of milk, increase of qnanti^r, and improvement of quality; richer, more buttery, superior color, 

 finer taste and flavor. 2. The most suitable age is six years, and after the third or fourth ealfi- 

 3. The spayed cow fattens more easily, and furnishes beef of a better quality. 4. .Cows that are 

 bad breeders nay be kep' as good milkers, and the quaKty of good cattte kept up." • 



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