VAGINAL OVARIOTOMY IN THE MARE. 1 17 



Operation by carefully directing the incision straight for- 

 wards ; when the accident occurs it is of little consequence 

 beyond the embarrassment and may be overcome by again 

 dilating the vagina with fresh injections of the soda solution 

 and making a new incision, or if preferred the first cut may 

 be corrected by placing an index finger against the perito- 

 neum at the upper part of the wound, and with a sudden 

 and vigorous thrust break through into the peritoneal 

 cavity, or the error may be corrected by again using the 

 scalpel and directing the incision properly. If it is at- 

 tempted to rupture the peritoneum with the finger it must 

 be done by a sharp thrust since otherwise a large section of 

 it will be pushed away from the subjacent tissues. 



Incomplete penetration of the vaginal wall is liable to 

 occur if the scalpel is dull or the vagina imperfectly "bal- 

 looned " and flaccid, or if the operator is unduly timid. It 

 is best prevented by avoiding the causes as related, and 

 once it has occurred it is' generally best to again " balloon " 

 the organ in the operation without anaesthesia and make a 

 new incision either to the right or left of the first. It may 

 be overcome also by thrusting the index finger through the 

 peritoneum as described in the preceding paragraph or 

 completing the cut with the scalpel. 



The mistaking of a ball of feces for the ovary has oc- 

 curred to inexperienced^perators and the fatal error of re- 

 moving the portion of ythe rectum surrounding the fecal pellet 

 committed. The blunder is uncalled for ; the fecal ball is 

 movable in the bowel, the intestine is far more massive 

 than the broad ligament, and the ovary is to be definitely 

 identified by its being lodged in the broad ligament just 

 beyond the end of the cornua, which is continuous with the 

 uterus. If, therefore, one traces the uterus forward to the 

 coruna, thence along these to their extremities and along 

 the border of the broad ligament to the ovary, as above 

 directed, the error will not occur. 



