CASTRATION OF COWS. 
309 
becomes emaciated to a skeleton, is conditioned by different neoplasise 
of the ovaries, as tubercles, sarcoma, carcinoma, and, above all, cystoma, 
further through hydrops of the folliculi graafiana. (Note. —The 
cvstoma ovarii is a cystic formation of the ovaries, through proliferation 
of the germinal epitheleim forming accumulations of cells, which pene¬ 
trate into the stroma of the same and secrete. The secrete accumules 
within the cellular accumulations and forms the cysts, which, when 
lying in opposition, form a tumor—cystoma. Later, the cysts become 
confluent and form hydrops ovarii multilocularis. Hydrops folliculorum 
ovarii owes its genesis to an accumulation of an albuminous fluid in a 
folliculus graafiana. This latter form is caused through irritation, and 
might be called catarrh of the graafian follicle.) With the removal of 
the ovaries, that is, the removal of the cause, the disease is healed, and 
only, by tuberculous ovaries, is the result of the operation negative, as 
this is but participatory condition of a general dyscorsia. I can but 
recommend the operation in all cases of developed nymphomania, as at 
present no other method of healing the condition is at our command. 
Of four cows operated upon by me in the last year, three recovered at 
once, while the fourth was killed in course of time on account of tuber¬ 
culosis. 
What is.the most conformable manner of operation ? This question 
renders it necessary to pass in review the various modifications of the 
same. All methods are united in that the operation of ovariotomy must 
be performed either from the flank or from the vagina. The first form, 
that of the flank operation, cannot be passed by by young animals, in 
that the vaginal canal is too narrow to allow vaginotomy. The method 
consists in first securing the animal, and then clipping the hair upon the 
place of operation, and in then making a section through the cutis, sub¬ 
cutis, musculature and peritoneum, reaching with the hand into the 
cavum abdominis, in order to separate the ovaries from their ligaments, 
and remove them. The separation of the ovaries can be performed 
either with the finger nails or with the ovariotomy forceps. The wound 
is to be closed lege retis. If cattle do in general bear such surgical 
manipulations, yet cases enough have come to pass which have ended 
fatally. Peritonitis, with a quantitive exudation, was in general the 
causa mortis. It was but natural that operators should address them¬ 
selves to the much-praised method of Charlier, and seek its improve¬ 
ment. The method was soon much simplified, and the costly instru¬ 
ments of C. replaced by simpler and cheaper. The topographical 
anatomy of the parts in question is as follows : The vagina of the cow 
