MORBID ALTERATIONS IN THE GENITAL ORGANS. 343 



Prognosis. 



Simple rigidity or spasm of the cervix uteri, provided there is no alter- 

 ation ill its texture, is not in itself of very much consequence. In 

 many cases Nature overcomes the obstacle, and in the course of twenty- 

 four, forty-eight, or seventy-two hours of more or less severe and exhaust- 

 ing labor, delivery is effected spontaneously, and the animal and its 

 progeny are none the worse after a short time. This delay has been most 

 frequently observed in the Cow and Goat ; in the Mare it is rarely so 

 prolonged. 



But, as a rule, it is not advisable to allow so much time to elapse after 

 labor has commenced, without, at least, ascertaining the nature of the 

 obstacle which delays birth • as during the longer intervals especially, 

 complications may arise which might lead to serious results. The foetus 

 may die, or it may assume a wrong position in the uterus, which may 

 afterwards prove troublesome to the obstetrist ; the mother may become 

 exhausted and the uterus paralyzed, so that the foetus cannot be expelled 

 when the os is dilated ; or, still more serious, the energetic contractions 

 of the uterus may produce rupture of the organ. 



So that a prognosis must be based on these considerations ; and both 

 the owner of the animal and the veterinarian must bear in mind the fact, 

 that while premature and too active intervention in such a case is to be 

 deprecated, too long delay in affording assistance is to be equally guarded 

 against. 



Trcatmefit. 



As this condition of the cervix uteri is, at the commencement, of no 

 great importance, and merely retards natural delivery, active interference 

 is forbidden for some time. 



When the first signs of parturition do not extend beyond some hours 

 — one or two for the Mare, five or six for the Cow, according to Saint- 

 Cyr ; when the obstetrist, by vaginal exploration, has assured himself 

 that the genital organs, as welf as the pelvis, are not in any way de- 

 formed or altered ; that the animal is all right otherwise ; and that rigid- 

 ity of the cervix is alone the cause of delay in birth ; then he ought to 

 wait, while being prepared at the same time for any emergency. The 

 glutinous matter which has been mentioned as occupying the vagina and 

 OS and covering the cervix, should be removed as much and as gently as 

 possible from these parts, so as to permit dilatation to take place when 

 the spasmodic condition begins to yield. 



If, however, labor appears to be unduly prolonged without any pro- 

 gress being made in parturition, and if the "pains" are energetic, while 

 the animal's condition is not so satisfactory, then intervention may be 

 counselled. But this intervention should be of the simplest and mildest 

 character ; and in the majority of cases it will be attended with entire 

 success. Injections jz>^r rectum or vagmam, of emollient or oily fluids, to 

 which tincture pi opium or extract of belladonna has been added ; the 

 ointment or extract of belladonna smeared around the cervix or intro- 

 duced into the os ; blankets or sacks steeped in hot water and applied 

 over the loins of the larger animals, or warm water baths for the smaller 

 ones ; and, in certain cases, the administration of draughts containing 

 some soothing medicament — such as chloral, chloroform, or opium j— 

 these are the means to be adopted. 



