688 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
common spayers have acquired the precision and dexterity re¬ 
quired to make a favorable impression upon their clients, and 
get favorable results from the operation, while the veterinarian 
with his knowledge of its surgical anatomy and the technique 
of the operation without the required practice is generally a 
bungler. Every young veterinary surgeon should familiarize 
himself with the operation and acquire some degree of pro¬ 
ficiency in performing it; besides he should acquaint himself 
with its effects, the sequelae of the operation, and be able to 
clearly demonstrate its indications and contra-indications. He 
should carefully study its physiological effect; the proper age 
of the sow and the most favorable season for the operation, to¬ 
gether with all the conditions that follow the operation that are 
profitable and advantageous. 
Sows of most any age bear the operation without a very 
marked depression, when they are properly prepared for the or¬ 
deal and the operation is well executed. Young sows between 
the ages of four and eight weeks, however, withstand it best. 
Sows should not be spayed during oestrum. Multipara endure 
the operation best about six weeks after parturition. 
Preparatory Treatment .—Sows to be operated upon should 
not be fed during the last twenty-four hours previous to the 
operation, and should be kept in a pen or enclosure ; this pen 
or enclosure should be clean, well bedded with clean straw or 
shavings. Even though aseptic measures cannot be carried out 
to the letter without great inconvenience, a degree of cleanli¬ 
ness will add to the comfort of the operator and his assistants. 
Just before the operation the sows should be driven out of the 
pen and given gentle exercise, which will induce them to defe¬ 
cate and micturate. During this time the pen or enclosure 
should be cleaned and rebedded ; and sows returned to the pen. 
Operation .—The method of restraint is a very important 
factor in spaying, and most every practical spayer has a method 
of his own, which is practically the same as all others with but 
a slight deviation to suit some particular step in the operation 
which he has adopted. Earge sows should be caught and a rope 
looped around its upper jaw (Fig. 32), which when drawn will 
cause her to draw back, and while doing so can easily be 
thrown upon her right side ; when cast some convenient method 
of securing must be improvised ; if the animal is very strong a 
piece of timber or a ladder placed across its neck, with the 
weight of an attendant upon it, will in most cases answer the 
purpose. Smaller animals are best secured as follows : The 
