532 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



uterus in place after returning it. An ordinary wooden 

 potato-masher, covered with chamois skin, answers the 

 purpose very well. A strong, large sized glass bottle 

 also makes a very good pessary. It should have a suitable 

 piece of wood introduced into its mouth to keep it in 

 position. An indiarubber bag first introduced into the 

 parts and afterwards inflated is one of the best appliances 

 possible to use, as it can be inflated with air until it attains 

 any required size. In case the rubber-bag cannot be ob- 

 tained, an inflated bladder will answer the purpose almost 

 as well. Trusses of various kinds, and more or less compli- 

 cated, are also used, and some of them are very useful. 

 Sutures and skewers are also sometimes employed to close the 

 lips of the vulva. The desired object can often be effected 

 by a strong person holding the hand in the uterus for half 

 an hour or so, and antagonizing by gentle pressure any 

 straining that be indulged in by the animal. In case the 

 uterus has remained inverted for a sufficient length of time 

 to become gangrenous, a result very likely to occur in cold 

 weather, or in warm weather if the circulation of the organ 

 be interfered with, the practitioner must remove it. It may 

 be removed by means of the knife, and the bloodvessels 

 secured in the ordinary way ; or its removal may be effected 

 by means of the ecraseur. In some cases death almost 

 immediately follows the operation, occurring in consequence 

 of nervous collapse. This operation is not at all likely to 

 be successful in the mare, but is performed with greater 

 success on the cow, and is attended with very little danger 

 indeed when performed on the smaller animals. As after- 

 treatment, perfect quietude of the patient should be 

 enforced, nourishing food should be allowed, stimulants 

 administered, etc. 



