REMOVAL OF THE OVARIES.
Then, again introducing his hand into the vagina, and passing his finger through the opening made by the incision, he feels for the ovaries, which he finds floating at the extremity of their ligaments, towards the entrance of the pelvis, below, on each side, and at a short distance from the incision, between the base of the uterine horns, near and inside of the free border of the ligaments, and a little above the anterior border of the pubis. Then, grasping the ovarian body, he draws it carefully into the vagina, through the incision, and introduces the long scissors, with the guarded blade of which he divides the thick border of the broad ligament ([Fig. 39]), replacing the ovaries into the abdomen without releasing his hold. The torsion forceps is then passed into the vagina and through the incision, and is made to take hold with its open jaws of the broad ligament ([Fig. 40]), above the ovary, and is firmly closed by the movement of the spiral crank of the handle (D). Both hands being now outside of the vaginal cavity, and the forceps being secured on the broad ligament, held by the right hand, the left thumb is protected by the thimble (E), and the hand once more inserted, to grasp the broad ligament above the point where the jaws of the torsion forceps are placed. In this position the torsion is made with the forceps, the twisting of the ligament being limited by the firm pressure made by the thimble on the thumb with the index finger, or by a pair of crushing pincers. After several turns of the instrument, the ovary is separated from its attachment, and may be brought out of the cavity, still held securely between the oval jaws of the torsion forceps. The same method is applicable to the ovaries of both sides. These rules are subject to more or less modification by indications which may occasionally present themselves, arising from the age of the animal or the structure or other conditions of the ovaries.
Fig. 40.—TORSION OF THE OVARY.
A B—Forceps closed. B C—Forceps open. E—Thimble.
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This method of castration has been modified in many ways, both as to the forms of the instruments used, and the mode of using them, a majority of operators, at the present time even, discarding the dilator, and making the incision simply by stretching the walls of the vagina and pushing against the neck of the uterus with the hand. The manner in which the removal of the ovaries is effected has also been subjected to many changes. For more than twenty years, during which we have been performing the operation, we have been accustomed to use the ecraseur in the last step, and with excellent and satisfactory results.
The subsequent attention required by the spayed cow is usually a very simple matter, and involves little beyond careful dieting, the patient recovering from the general effects upon the system usually in a few days.