CASTRATION OF COWS. 
311 
of the peritoneum from the muscularis, by which the operation is made 
unnecessarily difficult. The better and simplier way is to fasten the 
same between the thumb and first finger, and to draw the same into the 
wound, and there separate it ; the cut can easily be distended by the 
fingers in case it is not long enough. If the cut is made too far back¬ 
wards, or laterally, we find ourselves outside the vaginal peritoneum ; 
and sinus formation in the subserous connective tissue is a very un¬ 
pleasant consequence, which comes from endeavoring to puncture the 
peritoneum with fingers. Aside from this, if we succeed in puncturing 
the latter with the fingers we are not able to reach the ovaries until the 
entire hand is through. The hemorrhage from the vaginal wound is 
insignificant, and when the cut is made in the proper locality, takes place 
into the vagina, and not, as Putz says, into the cavum pelvis. 
The second operative act is the same by all operators, and consists 
in seeking for and withdrawal of the ovaries into the vagina by means 
of the first and second fingers of the left hand. Pathological conditions 
of the ovaries render this process difficult, and care must be taken with 
ovaries complicated with large cystoma, whose parietes are very thin, or 
with such having large corpora lutea, in that we must not rupture the 
first or press the latter out, which would lead to a loss of the ovary, 
perhaps, and require a second search. I fortunately met with no such 
case, however. 
' 0 
The last act of the operation is the extirpation of the ovaries, with 
or without torsion, and in the first case again with or without section of 
the ligamenta ovarii. Charlier recommends cutting the ligament upon 
both sides, then fixing the balance with the fingers, and separating the 
ovaries with the ovariotomy forceps per torsion. Richter and others 
cut into the ligament upon one side, and fix the balance with forceps 
which are bent at almost a right angle, separating the ovary per torsion 
with the hand. Colin used clams, and proceeded in like manner. 
Basse, in St. Petersburg, used the ecraseur, and praised it very much. 
Others did not like this method. Putz separated the ovaries in twenty 
cases by simple section (without torsion), and I have also in many more 
without any disadvantageous consequences, although in one case I could 
feel the pulsating blood stream against my hand. I changed this treat¬ 
ment and fixed the‘ligamenta ovarii with the powerful forceps of Richter, 
and separated the ovaries by others resembling the ovariotomy forceps 
of Charlier. I did this in order to see if the blood which gained access 
to the cavum abdominis by the simple section of the ligament was not 
the cause of the constantly present erethitic fever and the long continued 
