NOTES ON THE METHOD OF SPAYING BITCHES. 
2 7 
NOTES ON THE METHOD OF SPAYING BITCHES. 
By Dr. M. Francis, V.S., College Station, Texas. 
In looking over the literature in English on this subject, the 
writer has found very little of value to guide the young or inex¬ 
perienced practitioner. Before proceeding, I must stop a mo¬ 
ment to heartily endorse Prof. Wesley Mills’ remarks on the 
propriety and usefulness of the operation. The public, how¬ 
ever, demand it, and so far as the writer is concerned, they 
shall have it. Without further remarks I shall describe a method 
that has given us very satisfactory results. 
Requirements. — i-Sharp convex bistoury. i-Scissors. 
i-Dressing forceps, curved jaws , scissor handles. —Dressing 
forceps, straight jaws , scissor handles. 2-curved needles, No. 
6 or No. 7. Woven silk thread, No. 12 or No. 13. Several 
surgical sponges. Antiseptic solution. Anaesthetic mixture. 
Inhaler. Iodoform ointment. One assistant. 
The subject should be kept on a limited diet for twenty-four 
hours preceding the operation. The hour for the operation 
having arrived, the operator washes his hands thoroughly , giving 
the nails special attention. The assistant places the animal on 
her side, with her back toward him, on a table of ordinary 
height, loosens or removes the collar if present and holds both 
forelegs with one hand, and both hind legs with the other hand. 
The anaesthetic is given. I have tried chloroform, ether and 
a mixture of them. I greatly prefer the latter. I think I 
noticed it in Gresswell’s work. It is the most satisfactory I have 
ever tried. It contains: Chloroform, 20 pints; Ether, 80 pints. 
Having tried several inhalers we have found a conical glass 
percolator, such as every druggist uses, the most convenient. 
The quart size is suitable for ordinary animals. Large ones re¬ 
quire the two quart size. The anaesthetic is poured on a sponge 
placed in the percolator, and the animals nose held inside. The 
thumb of the operator’s left hand is placed over the neck of the 
percolator, and the right hand is placed on the back of the neck 
