DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 185 



organ appears external I3' and han^s down on the thighs. The result 

 is rapid engorgement and swelling of the organ, impaction of the rec- 

 tum with feces, and distension of tlie bladder with urine, all of which 

 conditions seriously interfere with the return of the mass. In return- 

 ing the womb the standing is preferable to the recumbent position, 

 as the abdomen is more pendent and there is less obstruction to the 

 return. It may, however, be necessary to put hobbles on the hind 

 limbs to prevent the mare from kicking. A clean sheet should be 

 held beneath the womb and all tilth, straw, and foreign bodies washed 

 from its surface. Then with a broad, elastic (india rubber) band, or 

 in default of that a long strip of calico 4 or 5 inches wide, wind the 

 womb as tightl}" as possible, beginning at its most dependent part 

 (the extremity of the horn). This serves two good ends. It squeezes 

 out into the general circulation the enormous mass of blood which 

 engorged and enlarged the organ, and it furnishes a strong protective 

 covering for the now delicate friable organ, through which it may be 

 safely manipulated without danger of laceration. The next step may 

 be the pressure on the general mass while those portions next the 

 vulva are graduall}' pushed in with the hands; or the extreme lowest 

 point (the end of the horn) may be turned within itself and pushed 

 forward into the vagina by the closed list, the return being assisted 

 by manipulations by the other hand, and even by those of assistants. 

 B}^ either mode the manipulations may be made with almost perfect 

 safety so long as the organ is closely wrapped in the bandage. Once 

 a portion has been introduced into the vagina the rest will usually 

 follov\^ with increasing ease, and the operation should be completed 

 with the hand and arm extended the full length within the womb and 

 moved from point to point so as to straighten out all parts of the organ 

 and insure that no portion still remains inverted within another por- 

 tion. Should any such partial inversion be left it will give rise to 

 straining, under the force of which it will gradually increase until the 

 whole mass will be protruded as before. The next step is to apply a 

 truss as an effectual mechanical barrier to further escape of the womb 

 through the vulva. The simplest is made with two inch ropes, each 

 about 18 feet long. These are each doubled and interwoven at the 

 bend, as seen in Plate IX, fig. •!. The ring formed by the inter- 

 lacing of the two ropes is adjusted around the vulva, the two ends 

 of the one rope are carried up on the right and left of the tail and 

 along thf spine, being wound round each other in their course, and are 

 final!}' tied to the upper part of the collar encircling the neck. The 

 remaining two ends, belonging to the other rope, are carried down- 

 ward and forward between the thighs and thence forward and upward 

 on the sides of the bell}' and chest to be attached to the right and left 

 sides of the collar. These ropes are draAvn tightly enough to keep 

 closely applied to the opening without chafing, and will fit still more 



