LAXITY OF CONTRIBUTORS. 
311 
I must also further observe, that, in making the incision 
through the abdomen, it will be far better to cut through the 
skin the entire length before we incise the muscular parts and 
peritoneum ; for if a portion of the parietes only be divided 
it will be found when the incision comes to be extended 
through the remainder of the skin, that, in all probability, ex- 
cessive straining and struggling will come on, which may cause 
great protrusion of the intestines to take place, and this would 
obstruct the operator in finishing his incision. In cutting 
through the uterus it will be well enough to make the incision 
longitudinally, so as not to run the risk of cutting across any 
large bloodvessel. As soon as we have made an incision into 
the uterus, assistants should immediately seize hold of its sides, 
and draw them up against the abdomen, so as to prevent the 
liquor amnii, or other matters that may happen to be in the 
uterus, from falling into the latter cavity. With some it is a 
practice not to insert any sutures in the uterus, under the impres- 
sion that the incision will close quite as well without them. On 
the whole, however, for my own part, I am inclined to adopt 
the use of them. In many instances where the uterus has 
been ruptured or laid open by the Caesarean operation, su- 
tures certainly have not been used, and still the patients have 
recovered. 
M. Chr6ten advises, that at the inferior part of the wound we 
should have an opening unconfined by suture, sufficiently large 
for the passage of two fingers, for the purpose of introducing a 
small piece of sponge, to staunch any haemorrhage, or remove, 
as often as might be necessary, any blood that might be effused 
into the abdomen, as well as for the escape of any matter that 
might become collected in the course of the suppuration of the 
wound. This opening was closed by a bit of sponge, which 
was confined in its proper situation by means of two ribands 
passing through the skin. 
LAXITY OF CONTRIBUTORS. 
By John Beevor, M.D., M.R.C.S., and Fellow of the Royal 
College of Physicians, Edinburgh. 
To the Editor and the Readers of 11 The Veterinarian .” 
Gentlemen, — The laxity of contributors complained of in 
your late number, inspires me, of the sister profession, to ex- 
press my thanks towards those who have contributed, and, as a 
reader, to assure them of the valuable information and the 
