OVARIOTOMY IN THE BITCH. 127 



Upon the side exposing the right uterine cornu, RUC, while 

 on the left side the ligament is divided at about its center 

 and the posterior portion, BL', is laid out on the flank, 

 while the anterior, BL, is left in its normal position con- 

 cealing a portion of the cornu, LUC. Unlike our other 

 domesticated animals, the broad ligament is heavily loaded 

 with fat which gives it an appearance very similar to the 

 omentum, but the net-work is far less conspicuous or want- 

 ing, the omentum also extends back into this region so that 

 the two are in contact. The ovary being indistinct and 

 hidden is difficult to identify directly, and the cornua being 

 covered over by the duplicature of the broad ligament is not 

 readily reached, so that the finger generally comes in con- 

 tact first with the broad ligament of the uppermost cornu 

 hanging loose in the peritoneal cavity : engage this between 

 the end of the finger and the abdominal wall and draw it out 

 through the wound, grasp it and continue drawing upon the 

 folds of the ligament, especially upon the median or under- 

 most portion until the naked cornu appears through the open- 

 ing, seize it and draw out the anterior portion until the ovary 

 follows, then grasp the latter with the thumb and index 

 finger of one hand and the ovarian ligament with the same 

 members of the other and tear the ligament through be- 

 tween them by linear tension. Extend the tear through the 

 broad ligament as high toward its lumbar attachment as 

 is convenient and backward to the neighborhood of the uter- 

 ine bifurcation. Draw upon the exposed cornu until the bi- 

 furcation appears, when the other branch is to be grasped 

 and drawn out through the opening. In young puppies the 

 securing of the second cornua is very difficult and requires 

 great care to prevent its rupture. The object may be facili- 

 tated by pressing the upper flank of the bitch downward, 

 thereby greatly diminishing the transverse diameter of the 

 abdomen. 



The succeeding operation (31) avoids this difficulty in a 



