and, above all, never to sever a muscle if it could be avoided. The hair being removed, I was about to make the incisions lengthways, in the course of the linea alba, when it suddenly occurred to me that I should not, in this case, be able to keep the lips of the wound approximated by sutures or bandages, on account of the depending state of the abdomen and its contents. I therefore determined to make the incisions more on the side, and across the oblique externus abdominis. I accordingly cut freely through the integuments for about eight inches in length, which I accomplished with a common scalpel. Next I penetrated through the adipose or fatty matter underneath, of which there was no lack; and then cut down on the muscle, at the superior part of the incision, quite through, and exposing the peritoneum. I now introduced my forefingers as directors, and with the curved bistoury laid the abdomen freely open.
"The lips of the incision or wound of course receded from each other to a great distance, and a slight arterial hemorrhage ensued, which I thought proceeded from the circumflex artery of the ileum. If the incision had been made longitudinally, this might have been prevented, but as the hemorrhage soon ceased, it was of little con- sequence. The intestines were much inflated with gas, and protruded as far as the wound of the peritoneum extended.
"I now introduced my right hand, and distinctly felt the situation of the uterus, when the animal made a desperate struggle, and some of the small intestines escaped. I found it necessary for an assistant to introduce his hand, to prevent a repetition of this. The bladder was distended with urine, which proved somewhat troublesome, and I had no catheter at hand. I was now about to make a second attempt to open the uterus, when I accidently felt the pulsation of a large artery. Had I divided the uterus in the same direction as the incision in the abdomen I should have cut the artery. Was it the uterine or vaginal artery? I placed my hand inferior to the vessel, and felt a young one. Next, with a scalpel in my right hand, guarded at the point with my forefinger, fearing that the sow might struggle and the instrument wound some of the intestines, I cut through the uterus, introduced my finger guarding the scalpel, and effected an opening into it about six inches in length. I then introduced my hand, laid hold of one of the fœtal pigs, and drew it out. In this way I proceeded until I removed the whole number, which amounted to seven.
"The operation being thus far completed, her legs were drawn towards each other, which brought the lips of the wound into approximation, and I retained them there by strong adhesive plasters, over which I placed a roller passing three times round her body. I now proceeded to examine my patient: she was, as might be expected, in a very weak state; and when her head was raised, it fell again upon my hand as if she was dead. As she lay in this exhausted
