21 o Veterinary Obstetrics 



wards. First the diseased ovary is firmly grasped and drawn as 

 far backwards as possible. The left hand, carefully prepared, is 

 then inserted with the greatest caution into the vagina and the 

 ovary, now held in the right hand per rectum, is grasped firmly 

 with the left through the roof of the vagina. 



Should the ovary escape because of sudden straining, search 

 for and grasp it again with the right hand, per rectum, for which 

 purpose it is best to partly withdraw the left until the gland is 

 again located and secured. By lifting and pushing the rectum 

 aside, the ovary is freed from the bowel and lies now surrounded 

 only by the superior vaginal wall. Grasping the gland, either 

 between the thumb, index and middle finger, or in the entire left 

 hand, it may then be pressed and ruptured with all the force at 

 command without any important injury to the vagina. In one 

 exceptional instance, indeed, in a case of sclerotic ovary, the 

 albuginea was ruptured, which was followed by no ill conse- 

 quence. Should the left hand for any reason whatever become 

 exhausted, it should be withdrawn and the right used in its 

 stead. 



The bursting of thick-walled, large cysts is recognizable by 

 the sudden disappearance of resistance and is now and then evi- 

 denced by a slight cracking sound. It is highly advantageous 

 that the rectal straining generally exerts no, or in other cases, 

 only very slight influence upon the fixation of the ovary per 

 vaginam, as a consequence of which the final compression is 

 very much easier and more possible than by fixation of the ovary 

 through the rectum. The thinner and more flaccid the superior 

 vaginal wall and the farther the ovary can be drawn backwards, 

 the easier the operation, and vice versa 



We have attempted to rupture central cysts through the supe- 

 rior vaginal walls by a specially constructed instrument similar 

 to the lithotrite of Weiss, but without result, as it was impossible 

 to secure the affected ovary through the superior vaginal wall 

 even though ample and flaccid. 



In cows with large, wide, relaxed vaginae we have also at- 

 tempted to secure the ovary through the superior vaginal wall by 

 means of an ecraseur chain and then to rupture or puncture the 

 cysts, but we have found it a very exhausting task, which rarely 

 succeeds, and our experience has not warranted recommending it. 



In cystic degeneration with adhesions of the ovaries to neigh- 



