DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
767 
(4 out of 72). Prof. Williams relates an occasion where he per¬ 
formed the operation in twenty mares, ranging from two to 
twelve years, without a single death. The modern surgeon 
performs the operation through the vagina, and it is simple 
when once understood. The animal should be properly con¬ 
fined. May use the same stocks that were used in operating on 
the heifers. Strap all four feet to the floor and place the 
animal in the slings. The rectum should be emptied before 
beginning the operation. Cleanliness is the prevailing item al¬ 
ways. With the knife make a puncture through the most anterior 
part of the roof of the vagina just above the cervix uteri. Into 
this puncture place your long handled scissors and open them, 
thus tearing the parts ; pass your hand through this opening 
and trace the horn of the uterus until you come to the ovary 
and take off with the ecraseur, or may be twisted off with a 
pair of forceps. After the second ovary is removed the operation 
is completed, as there is no suturing done in this case. As to 
the after-treatment, there doesn’t seem to be very much, only 
that the animal should be put on a soft diet for a fortnight 
or so. 
Next comes the spaying of the bitch. This animal when 
spayed becomes brighter, more docile, and for a house dog stays 
at home better, and at the same time never has too much com¬ 
pany around and is never found linked with a dog. Some seem 
to have the idea that they grow very fat and lazy, but I attrib¬ 
ute this to the fact that those cases are the ones that are kept 
in the parlor and occupy the best chair, etc., and are never al¬ 
lowed outside the house to take a little exercise only once or 
twice a day and then exercise is not the object when they are 
out. The old bitch that has been bred, may, when her time of 
heat should come, take the male from habit, so, therefore, I 
think they should be spayed when young. Fast or starve the 
animal for 48 hours. Have her properly confined. Shave the 
seat of operation, which is generally just posterior to the um¬ 
bilicus, but different veterinarians prefer different regions. Wash 
the part with soap and water and bathe with a solution of mer¬ 
curic chloride or some other good antiseptic ; with the scalpel 
make about a two-inch incision down to the peritoneum ; then 
puncture through the peritoneum into the abdominal cavity ; 
into this puncture place your directory and with your curved 
bistoury make the incision in the peritoneum ; place one or two 
fingers into this opening and locate the horn of the uterus, 
which can be traced to the ovary ; bring the ovary out and take 
