PROLAPSE OF THE VAGINA. 687 



colour, gradually dries, and not infrequently meets with, injury from 

 the animal lying down, or sometimes from attempts at replacement. 

 During this time the patient often strains and frequently passes 

 urine. Prolapse occurring after delivery seldom disappears of itself, 

 the vagina remaining continuously displaced until it receives proper 

 attention. 



Prognosis. Incomplete prolapse is usually only of importance 

 in breeding animals, in which it may recur after every pregnancy. 

 Injury of the prolapse may cause inflammation of a dangerous 

 character. In rare cases severe straining may be followed by rupture 

 of the vagina and prolapse of bowel and bladder. This condition 

 has oftenest been seen in mares, and is rarely curable. Under such 

 circumstances the uterus may become prolapsed ; cases of the kind 

 have been reported in ewes, goats and sows. In the ewe the prolapsed 

 vagina becomes excoriated from contact with the wool. 



Complete prolapse is always grave in pregnant animals, because 

 of its almost invariably interfering with parturition. Prolapse in 

 non-pregnant animals often occasions injury and inflammation of 

 the vagina, which reduce the production of milk and greatly lower 

 the breeding value of the animal. 



In swine, the prognosis is still more unfavourable, because of 

 the difficulty in treatment. 



Treatment. As a preventive, the animal must be placed in a 

 proper stall, so arranged that the hind-quarters are at least as high 

 as the fore. Most other precautions necessitate increased outlay, 

 thus rendering their adoption out of the question. The most 

 important is, of course, to prevent the animal breeding. Before 

 attempting curative treatment the cause of the prolapse should be 

 sought and if possible removed ; otherwise recurrence is apt to follow 

 reduction of the protrusion. 



In reducing a complete prolapse — the incomplete form generally 

 returns of itself — the cow is placed with the fore-limbs lower than 

 the hind. By introducing the finger into the urethra, the bladder 

 is first emptied, the parts then cleansed as far as possible, any existing 

 wounds sutured, and endeavours made to return the vagina through 

 the vulva by placing the open hand against the swelling and gradually 

 pressing it forwards. On attaining the vulval opening, the hand 

 should be closed without relaxing the pressure, and the prolapsed 

 vagina thus returned to its normal position. The operator takes 

 advantage of the intervals between straining, and retains the hand 

 in the vagina until these efforts stop. With the arm in the vagina 

 the operator places his closed fist against the os uteri, which he pushes 



