184 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



resorted to. Another method which is especially commendable in 

 these inflamed conditions of the womb is to bring a piece of linen 

 sheet, 30 by 36 inches, under the womb, with its anterior border close 

 up to the vulva, then turn the posterior border upward and forward 

 over the organ, and cross the two ends over this and over each other 

 above. The ends of the sheet are steadily drawn, so as to tighten its 

 hold on the womb, which is thus held on the level of the vulva or 

 above, and cold water is constantly poured upon the mass. The re- 

 duction is further sought by compression of the mass with the palms 

 applied outside the sheet. Fifteen or twenty minutes are usually 

 sufficient to cause the return of the womb, provided straining is pre- 

 vented by pinching of the back or otherwise. 



In old and aggravated cases, with the womb torn, bruised, or 

 even gangrenous, the only resort is to amputate the entire mass. This 

 is done by tying a strong waxed cord around the protruding mass 

 close up to the vulva, winding the cord around pieces of wood, so as 

 to draw it as tightly as possible, cutting off the organ below this 

 ligature, tying a thread on any artery that may still bleed, and re- 

 turning the stump well into the vagina. 



Retention of the returned womb is the next point, and this is 

 most easily accomplished by a rope truss. Take two ropes, each about 

 18 feet long and an inch in thickness. Double each rope at its 

 middle, and lay the one above the other at the bend so as to form an 

 ovoid of about 8 inches in its long diameter. Twist each end of the 

 one rope twice around the other, so that this ovoid will remain when 

 they are drawn tight. Tie a strap or rope around the back part of the 

 neck and a surcingle around the body. Place the rope truss on the 

 animal so that the ovoid ring shall surround the vulva, the two as- 

 cending ropes on the right and left of the tail and the two descending 

 ones down inside the thighs on the right and left of the udder. These 

 descending ropes are carried forward on the sides of the body and 

 tied to the surcingle and to the neck collar. The ascending ropes pro- 

 ceed forward on the middle of the back, twisting over each other, and 

 are tied to the surcingle and collar. The upper and lower ropes are 

 drawn so tightly that the rope ring is made to press firmly all around 

 the vulva without risk of displacement., This should be worn for 

 several days, until the womb shall have closed and all risk of further 

 eversion is at an end. Variations of this device are found in the use 

 of a narrow triangle of iron applied around the vulva and fixed by a 

 similar arrangement of ropes, surcingle, and collar, a common 

 crupper similarly held around the vulva, stitches through the vulva, 

 and wires inserted through the skin on the two hips, so that they will 

 cross behind the vulva ; also pessaries of various kinds inserted in the 

 vagina. None of these, however, presents any advantage over the 

 simple and comparatively painless rope truss described above. Such 

 additional precautions as keeping the cow in a stall higher behind 

 than in front, and seeing that the diet is slightly laxative and non- 

 stimulating may be named. If straining is persistent, ounce doses of 

 laudanum may be employed twice a day, and the same may be in- 

 jected into the vagina. 



