282 MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 



these. There is formed, at first, a small tumor, the size of a pigeon's or 

 hen's Qgg ; this tumor is soft, indolent, more or less easily reduced, and 

 which, attracting perhaps little or no attention while the animal is unim- 

 pregnated, remains stationary. After impregnation, however, it daily 

 acquires larger dimensions ; one or more ovules have descended into the 

 hernied portion, localized themselves there, and become developed into 

 foetuses without the Bitch showing much, if any, disturbance. 



The usual seat of the hernia is in the mammary region, to the right or 

 left of the linea alba, though it may be also inguinal, or even vulvular. 

 An example of inguinal uterine hernia will be given hereafter ; we will 

 now briefly allude to a case of vulvular uterine hernia described by Rain- 

 ard. In this instance, the uterus, which had been apparently carried 

 through the inguinal ring, was pushed backwards through the connective 

 tissue, and appeared as a tumor at the vulva. The owner of the animal, 

 not knowing what the swelling contained, opened it by means of a pen- 

 knife ; in this way there was formed a fistulous wound from which a viscid 

 fluid escaped. Rainard incised this fistula, and found beneath the skin 

 a second membrane having some analogy to it, and which afterwards 

 proved to be the uterus; to the inner face of this there adhered a reddish- 

 brown vascular network, which was the placenta, and which was easily 

 detached by the finger, and within it appeared a transparent bladder — the 

 amnion — already slightly perforated, and looking like the envelope of a 

 kyst. Having opened this, there escaped a quantity of fluid, and a foetus 

 apparently three or four weeks old. The Bitch died next day. 



When the hernia occurs in*the abdominal region, it usually appears as 

 an indolent tumor, the skin covering it being destitute of redness and not 

 attenuated in any way ; the tumor itself being soft and fluctuating at dif- 

 ferent points where the liquor unmii \'i, but firm and resisting at others 

 where the foetus chances to be. 



It may be noted here, that we may have other herniae of the uterus 

 than ventral. For instance, Gelle describes a case of hernia of one of the 

 uterine cornua, which contained a calf, and which had passed through a 

 rent in the mesentery. And Rainard has observed several cases of this 

 kind in the Bitch. 



Diagnosis. 



The diagnosis of uterine hernia in the larger animals is not difficult in 

 the great majority of instances, and especially if labor has commenced. 

 In the first place, it is usually known to the owner that the animal is 

 pregnant ; and in the second place, if parturition has begun there can 

 scarcely be any mistake made as to the nature of the expulsive efforts. 

 Besides, there is the abdominal tumor with its peculiar characteristics, 

 and by manipulating which the foetus can be detected. It will also be 

 discovered that the tumor does not adhere to the abdominal parietes, and 

 that it may be reduced by taxis. 



But it may be necessary to ascertain the presentation and position of 

 the foetus, and if it cannot be born, what the nature of the obstacle is 

 which prevents delivery. In such a case vaginal exploration must be 

 resorted to ; and from it we may learn that the os is not dilated from one 

 of several causes to be hereafter discussed ; or the non -dilatation may 

 be due to the uterine contractions not pressing the foetal mass directly 

 against the cervix, in consequence of the altered direction of the uterus, 



