REPORTS OF CASES. 
425 
were drawn backward and outward by means of block and 
tackle. At this juncture, the operating table, four feet wide 
and sixteen feet long, was arranged beneath his body ; then his 
feet were extended until his body came in contact with the 
table slightly canted to the right siae. A rope was attached to 
each tusk and fastened at right angles. As he was put under 
the influence of an ansesthetic the utmost caution was exercised. 
Thus insensible, an incision was made in his left side through 
the dermis, just posterior to the last rib, beginning at the end 
of the transverse process of lumbar vertebrae, extending down¬ 
ward about ten inches. The skin was an inch thick, white 
and almost bloodless ; the external three-fourths of an inch 
was very viscous and difficult to cut. An eight-inch opening 
was made through the muscles and peritoneum, in which the 
hand was introduced, bearing forward, finding the glands just 
posterior to the kidneys. These glands were loosely but se¬ 
curely attached. The emasculator, which was made with a 
screw to remove the glands, broke before either gland was dis¬ 
placed, because it was too highly tempered ; otherwise it would 
have answered the purpose. This misfortune made it neces¬ 
sary to reach in at arm’s length and ligature the best possible 
way under the circumstances and remove the glands by the aid 
of the knife. The peritoneum, muscles and skin were saturated 
in the usual manner and the incision was closed with wound 
gelatine. The operation was made aseptic as far as possible. 
The influence of the anaesthetic had waned by the time the 
operation was completed, and the animal did not seem to be 
distressed. He lived fifty-seven hours, during which time his 
appetite was normal ; did not seem to suffer until an hour 
before his death. The direct cause of his death is not known, 
as no examination was made. 
With the right kind of instruments, properly constructed, 
this operation, which required an hour and a half, could have 
been accomplished in thirty minutes. Under favorable condi¬ 
tions, and with suitable instruments, we believe that the opera¬ 
tion could be successfully performed, as it would then not be 
necessary to have the abdominal cavity open more than ten or 
fifteen minutes. 
TORSION OF THE UTERUS. 
By W. J. Martin, V. S., Kankakee, Ill. 
Owing to the rarity of this obstetric malposition among 
solipeds the following case is thought worthy of record. 
