70 OVARIOTOMY OF TROUBLESOME MARES. 



That a certain amount of cirrhosis will not prevent breeding 

 is illustrated in Case lo (Appendix, page 95), in which a manual 

 examination of both ovaries revealed them to be cirrhotic and 

 much harder to the touch than normal. The worst diseased 

 one was removed, and the mare afterwards had a foal and has 

 become pregnant for a second time. 



Preparation of the Patient before Operation. — As in the 

 case of the cryptorchid patient, the intestines should be kept as 

 empty as possible. A dose of physic may be given a few days 



Fig. 26. 

 Position of operator during operation. 



beforehand, although this practice is by no means necessary ; 

 a laxative diet and twenty-four hours' enforced abstinence from 

 food being all sufficient. Care must be taken that the bedding 

 is not eaten, and a limited supply only of water should be given 

 early on the morning of the operation. If an enema is used to 

 empty the rectum this should be done at least an hour before- 

 hand, or .some of it may return and soil the arm of the operator 

 and perhaps contaminate the vagina ; sometimes it is wise to 

 empty the bladder with a catheter or by inserting a finger 

 into the urethral orifice. If the mare will allow it, the under 



