92 ANIMAL CASTEAT10^f. 



the internal commissure, the hand gradually goes up 

 and finally, without difficulty, succeds in isolating 

 the small oblique from the crural arch ; when it has 

 reached the bottom of the canal, it separates the 

 arch from the posterior border of the muscle ; then 

 it reaches the peritoneum, through which it may 

 detect the intestinal circumvolutions. What remains 

 to do is to perforate the peritoneum. Generally it 

 is done quite easily by a sudden push of the extremity 

 of the index finger alone or with it the medium; 

 sometimes it has to be torn with the nails. If blood 

 collects in the canal, it must be removed with aseptic 

 pads. 



Such are the manipulations of this delicate step ; 

 when well done, they allow a peritoneal opening to 

 be made high enough to avoid all danger of eventra- 

 tion. When the hand has followed the proper way, 

 it reaches the peritoneum not far from the lumbar 

 region, near the terminal tendon of the small psoas 

 and the external iliac artery, or more outwardc, near 

 the middle of the external border of the psoas iliacus; 

 it must reach it almost on a level with the superior 

 insertion of the long adductor of the leg on the 

 lumbo-iliac aponeurosis, close to the margin of the 

 pelvis, between the tendons of the small psoas and 

 the middle of the inferior face of the psoas iliacus ; 

 the serous is perforated at such a height that the 

 intestines have no tendency to escape. When the 

 animal is up, the pressure made upon the abdominal 

 has for effect to push the small oblique close to the 

 crural arch, to reduce the size of the tunnel made in 



