MORBID ALTERATIONS IN THE GENITAL ORGANS. 



347 



the time that elapsed since the period of gestation had expired, this was evidently a case 

 of "missed birth." 



It was proposed to incise the cervix, so as to allow the hand to be introduced, but 

 this was objected to by the owner, as it would probably render the Cow useless for 

 breeding purposes. The case was left as hopeless, and as it was decided that the ani- 

 mal should not be killed, it was kept as a " pensioner." 



About the end of April it was proposed that Barnes' infiating india-rubber bags, as 

 used for women, should be tried, As might have been foreseen, it was soon discovered 

 that, though suitable for the human female, the bags in ordinary use were neither suffi- 

 ciently long nor strong enough. Special bags were therefore prepared, and the smallest 

 was introduced into the os by means of the whalebone director, though with the 

 greatest difficulty. It was then gradually filled with warm water by the india- 

 rubber syringe and tube attached to it. In about ten minutes this bag had sufficiently 

 dilated the os to admit that of the next size, and in rather less than an hour the largest 

 bag was filled, when the passage was so widened that the decomposed fcetus was re- 

 moved with very little trouble. 



The uterus contained a large quantity of horribly foetid fluid ; this was removed, and 

 the cavity thoroughly cleansed and syringed out with a dilute solution of Condy's fiuid. 

 The animal quite recovered. 



A simpler contrivance than that of Barnes, and which will perhaps be 

 found useful on similar occasions, is that designed by Schnakenburg, and 

 named the " Sphenosiphon." It is merely the bladder of an animal 

 tied to a syringe, and which, when water is injected into it, mechanically 

 dilates the cervix. For veterinary purposes, the bladder might be attached 

 to a piece of india-rubber tubing, which again could be fixed to the nozzle 

 of the syringe. It and Barnes' dilator act in the same manner as the 

 natural " water-bag," formed by the fcetal membranes and liquor amnii. 



Another means which might be successfully employed in such cases, as 

 it is simple and without danger, and at the same time effective in pro- 

 ducing premature artificial delivery in woman, is the uteri?ie douche intro- 

 duced into obstetrical practice in 1848, by Kiwisch of Dresden. This is 

 generally known as the " ascending uterine douche," and consists of a jet 

 of water at a certain temperature directed against the posterior uterine 

 segment for some minutes, and repeated, if necessary, at intervals of 

 two or three hours. It is often resorted to in woman to favor the dilata- 

 tion of an e?itirdy closed os, and to prepare it for the application of an- 

 other method, which may be either Barnes' or Schnakenburg's. 



Saint-Cyr proposes to adopt this method to animals in the following 

 manner. The apparatus may consist merely of a bucket, or barrel with 

 one end out, such as may be found in almost every stable or cow-shed, 

 and a long piece of india-rubber tubing about half an inch in diameter, 

 which can be procured easily and cheaply. To one end of this tubing is 

 fitted the pipe of an ordinary syrfnge — either enema or garden ; the other 

 end is immersed in the barrel or pail, which should be filled with tepid 

 water at a temperature of about 40° Cent. (104° Fahr.), and placed 

 sufficiently high to yield a pretty strong jet. 



In order to set the water flowing, the tube must be exhausted of air 

 by suction with the mouth, and the end provided with the syringe pipe 

 carried into the vagina and directed towards the cervix uteri. Each 

 douche should continue for about ten or fifteen minutes, or longer ; and 

 it may be repeated every two or three hours, or even at short intervals, 

 according to circumstances, until the desired effect has been produced. 



Cazeaux speaks highly of this method of dilating the cervix in woman, 

 and for the following reasons : 



I, The uterine douche prepares the act of premature birth with the 

 greatest possible gentleness, by means of the softening and the necessary 

 dilatation of the inferior searment of the uterus. 



