242 Veterinary Obstetrics 



compression for a few minutes by means of forceps. The incision 

 through the floor of the vulva may be sutured except a small 

 area for drainage. 



2. CA.UDAL Myectomy. 



In dealing with the .symptoms of nymphomania in the mare, 

 we related the very common and vicious habit of gripping the 

 reins with the tail. Following the seizure of the reins, the 

 nymphomaniac mare may lean heavily against the pole, kick 

 viciously or, turning abruptly, break or upset the vehicle and 

 run away. This vicous habit constitutes one of the most danger- 

 ous features of nymphomania in the mare, endangering alike 

 property and the life of the driver or other persons and of the 

 patient herself. Its amelioration or eradication, consequently, 

 becomes important. The power of the animal to grip the reins 

 may be overcome by myectomy, but this involves ordinarily no 

 other effect upon the nymphomania. 



As practiced in this clinic, the animal is confined in the stocks 

 or upon the operating table and the tail secured, firmly stretched 

 dorsalwards. Under proper antiseptic precautions and after the 

 application of an elastic ligature at the base of the tail, two par- 

 allel incisions are made directly over the center of the two de- 

 pressor coccygeus longus muscles, commencing close against the 

 ligature and continuing for a distance of 6-8 inches, through the 

 skin and caudal aponeurosis, laying the muscles bare. The 

 muscles are dissected away from the surrounding parts and the 

 entire exposed portion is excised, after which tampons of anti- 

 septic cotton, approximately the size of the excised muscles, are 

 laid in the cavities and, over these, an antiseptic bandage applied 

 with sufficient firmness to control hemorrhage, after which the 

 elastic ligature is removed. 



Properly carried out, the operation leaves the patient with an 

 efficient tail in all respects except the power to forcibly grip the 

 reins. This power being inhibited, the reins may be easily freed 

 by the driver. The vice is thus, in many cases, greatly amelio- 

 rated or wholly relieved, but the ovarian irritation presumably 

 remains the same, and only the one important symptom, and 

 those associated with it, is affected. 



Amputation of the tail, with or without knicking, brings about 

 the same result, with the disadvantage, or otherwise, of the loss 



