3 46 MA TERN A L D YSTOKIA . 



dry for some days. After this treatment it preserves a certain degree of 

 siippleness, but may remain for a minute or two in contact with the mucus 

 before imbibing it. 



Barnes' procedure for the dilatation of the os uteri in woman, has also 

 proved of great service in human obstetrics ; but to our knowledge it has 

 only once been tried with animals, though there is no reason why it should 

 not be successfully employed, not only in producing abortion in those 

 cases to which w^e have previously alluded, but also in the morbid con- 

 dition now under consideration. 



This procedure -consists in dilating the os by means of fiddle-shaped 

 india-rubber bags, which for women are of three different sizes ; but the 

 very largest of them would probably be required as the smallest size that 

 could advantageously be used for the Cow or Mare.* 



Fig. 77- 

 Barnes' Uterine Dilator. 



The bag, in an empty condition, is introduced into the os by means of 

 a whalebone sound or director, which fits into a small pocket at the side ; 

 it is pushed through the canal until the pocket end projects into the 

 uterus j then water is steadily injected into it by means of the tube at- 

 tached to the other end. When filled with water the bag remains in the 

 OS, in consequence of the middle portion being narrower than the two 

 ends. 



This dilator produces the same results as the sponge tent, over which 

 it has some advantages. The only drawback to it is, perhaps, the thick- 

 ness of its substance ; as it cannot be passed into the os unless this is 

 permeable to two or three fingers. 



The instance to which we have alluded as that in which this dilating bag has been 

 tried, is recorded by West ( Veterinarian, 1876, p. 384). On February 9th, 1876, lie saw 

 a very valuable Cow, the winner of several first-class prizes, which should have calved in 

 the previous November, but had showed no signs of doing so. It was, in fact, a good 

 example of the condition which we are now treating of, and which has been vulgarly 

 designated a " horned-up " os uteri. The animal was apparently healthy, the pulse and 

 temperature being normal, and there being no offensive discharge from the vagina. An 

 examination /^r rcctian revealed the presence of a foetus in the uterus, while exploration 

 per vaginam proved that the os uteri was nearly closed, and that the end of a finger 

 could not be inserted. Belladonna was applied, and the cervix patiently manipulated 

 for a long time, but the constriction could not be dilated to the smallest extent. From 



* These bags are made by Weiss & Son, surgical instrument makers. Strand, London. When ordered, 

 the animal for which they are to be used should be mentioned. 



