114 VA GINAL O VA RIO TO MY IN THE MARE. 



If the hand is introduced immediately after the injection 

 of the sterile saline solution the vagina will generally be 

 found ' ' ballooned ' ' or will quickly become inflated under 

 manual movements. If the solution is thrown out the va- 

 gina may collapse and closely invest the hand, in which 

 case more of the liquid should be injected when it will again 

 dilate. If the hand is introduced without the knife, with- 

 drawn and then introduced with it, it will be frequently 

 found that the vagina has collapsed and needs a second fill- 

 ing with the fluid. Patience until dilation is accomplished 

 and promptness to act when attained are prime requisites 

 to success. The knife should be pushed through the va- 

 gina quickly making a clean wound the width of the blade, 

 when the latter is to be withdrawn and laid aside. It should 

 be remembered that in this " ballooned " state, the anterior 

 wall of the vagina is but 2 or 3 mm. thick and easily pene- 

 trated. Introduce the hand again, push one finger into 

 the incision, then a second and third, and eventually hold- 

 ing all the finger.5 in the form of a cone push the entire 

 hand into the peritoneal cavity. Immediately below the 

 incision and continuous with the tissues involved in the 

 wound lies the uterus with a transverse diameter of 4 to 6 

 cm. With the palm of the hand downwards, trace the uterus, 

 U, Plate XVIII, forward a distance of 15 to 18 cm., where it 

 ends abruptly in two cornua of about the same size as the 

 body, which are given off horizontally at almost right angles. 

 Trace these to the right and left for a distance of 14 or 15 

 cm., where they end obtusely, and 3 or 4 cm. beyond this 

 in a direct line, resting upon the anterior border of the 

 broad ligament is the dense oval ovary varying in size from 

 2.5 to 7 cm. in diameter. Prepare the ecraseur for use by 

 withdrawing the chain until the loop is of barely sufficient 

 size to admit of its being readily slipped over the ovary. 

 Grasp this loop and the end of the ecraseur tube in the 

 hand which is to be used in the operation and carry the in- 



