530 
T. E. ROGERS. 
ably a “ Miles-hook,” an “ S ” sound, straight and curved 
needles, and silk. 
The dog should be washed with carbolic soap the day be¬ 
fore the operation, and, if woolly, should have the region of 
the operation shaved ; but if this is done great care must be 
used to remove all the cut hair or it will get in the wound 
and cause trouble. It is advantageous also to limit the diet 
to milk and water for a day prior to the operation. Anti¬ 
septic precautions should be used throughout. The incision 
should be on the median line, should commence a little nearer 
the ensiform cartilage than the pubes, and should be carried 
backward for an inch and a half and no more. The longer the 
incision the greater the mortality. I prefer to cut the skin first, 
and then go carefully between the recti muscles without in¬ 
juring their fibres, and the peritoneum should be divided with 
the muscles, if care be taken to commence near enough to the 
ensiform cartilage. The muscles will be found thinner than 
below, and the peritoneum in closer apposition to them; the 
danger of incising a full bladder will also be lessened. The 
incision‘made, the operator standing on the left side of the 
bench passes the index finger of the left hand into the wound, 
the dorsal surface of the finger looking toward the head of 
the animal, and moving it backward and somewhat toward 
him, he should find the right horn of the uterus. If difficulty 
occurs (and it will occur occasionally), the “ S ” sound should 
be greased and carefully passed through the vagina into the 
uterus and the end of the sound felt for. Having brought 
out the horn it should be gently held by the thumb and fore¬ 
finger of the left hand, being kept slightly tense, and the in¬ 
dex finger of the right hand being passed along the horn, will 
find the ovary suspended in a fold of broad ligament; a little 
pressure of the finger loosens it, and allows the horn and 
ovary to be brought outside the abdominal cavity. The same 
procedure is followed with the other horn, and a ligature 
being passed round both horns about an inch from their dis¬ 
tal end, the ovaries and portions of horn are removed, the 
stump sponged off, and with its ligature returned to its place. 
The ligature becomes encysted or absorbed. The assistant 
