76 OVARIOTOMY OF TROUBLESOME MARES. 



be syringed with antiseptic three or four tinies a day for several 

 days previous to operation. 



Surgical Ana.tomy. — On introducing the hand between the 

 lips of the vulva one passes through a constricted portion into 

 a hollow cavity — the vagina itself. At the far end of this, a 

 little nearer the roof than the floor, is to be felt the mouth of 

 womb. This may be tightly closed or sufficiently open to 

 admit the end, or even the whole length, of a finger. Immedi- 

 ately above this, when the mare is in a standing position, is the 

 spot selected for the incision ; it is here that the blood vessels 

 of the vagina are fewest in number and of the least importance. 

 Upon introducing the hand, with the palm downwards, into the 

 abdomen one feels a soft smooth body just on the other side 

 of the OS. This is the body of the uterus, and by following 

 this along the operator can, if he has not at once found the 

 ovaries, readily discern each horn, and eventually reach the 

 ovary which is at its extremity. The ovaries hang, one on 

 each side, under the loins just behind the kidneys, attached 

 by a fold of peritoneum. In disease they vary in size from 

 a small walnut to a large cocoanut, and in shape thej' are very 

 much like one or other of these, fruits, although the external 

 surface is not always regular. To the touch they n)ay feel 

 very hard or soft and cystic: They receive their blood supply 

 through the ovarian arteries, and are plentifully supplied with 

 veins. It is a wise plan for an intending operator to make 

 himself acquainted with the external form and feel of ovaries 

 from different subjects beforehand. 



The rectum is situated just above the uterus, and the coils of 

 intestine are all around it, so much so that when the mare is 

 c ast for operation great care must be taken not to include a 

 small piece of this in the loop of the ecraseur chain. 



Description of the Operation.— The operator, having attended 

 to the cleansing of his hand and arm, kneels or lies down be- 

 hind the mare's hind quarters, whilst an assistant holds the tail 

 out of the way. If a speculum is used (it is not at all essential) 

 it is fixed in position now, Compressing his hand into as small 



