POST PA R TUM H^MOREHA GE. ^jg 



nated \<'ith vinegar and water, perchloride of iron, or any other styptic, 

 may be passed into the vagina, or even into the uterine cavity. 



Should the hcemorrhage persist, revulsives in the form of mustard cata- 

 plasms, or stimulating liniments, may be applied to distant parts of the 

 body, as the chest, neck, or limbs. Internally, tannic acid, salts of lead 

 and morphia, perchloride of iron, tincture of ergot of rye, or any other 

 agent likely to act as a haemostatic, may be administered. 



1. In 1822, Gelle [Pathologie Bovine, vol. iii., p. 539) was called upon to attend a Cow 

 which was losing much blood from the vulva. The animal had calved two days before, 

 and on the previous day, as the Secundines had not come away, the owner had attempted 

 to remove them himself. In doing so, however, owing to ignorance, he had taken away 

 not only the membranes, but also a good number of maternal cotyledons, and so caused 

 the haemorrhage. When Gelle saw the animal, a long stream of blood, as thick as a 

 straw, flowed from the vulva ; the pulse was full and strong ; the creature very restless. 

 Four kilogrammes of blood were abstracted (!), and the injection of cold water into the 

 vagina ordered. Soon after, the uterus was explored, and about one-third of the mem- 

 branes — which had been left by the owner — were removed, as well as some clots. The 

 treatment was continued until the next day, when the animal was well. 



2, 3. Schaack reports [Jourttal de Med. Vet. de Lyon, 185 1) that on two occasions, in 

 pulling at the membranes in order to remove them, he has torn away large cotyledons. 

 " This accident has been followed by haemorrhage and muscular tremblings ; then en- 

 sued suffering, fever, tumefaction around the vulvar opening, and in eight or ten days 

 death occurred." This unfortunate result happened during summer, and death was 

 probably due to septic metritis rather than to the haemorrhage — though the latter may 

 have been indirectly the cause of the metritis. ■ 



4. Saint-Cyr [Op. cit., p. 600) observed a case of uterine haemorrhage under the fol- 

 lowing circumstances. A fine Mare, three years old and a primipara, gave birth to a foal 

 after much difficulty,and inversion of the uterus soon followed. When Saint-Cvr arrived, 

 the organ' was entirely expelled, and hung as low as the hocks, forming a tumor much 

 larger than an ordinary bucket. The Mare was straining incessantly. Despairing of 

 effecting reposition of the organ in the condition in which it then was, a number of 

 somewhat deep scarifications were made in the tumefied and reddened mucous mem- 

 brane, by means of a lancet ; and as soon as the blood began to flow in abundance the 

 tumor diminished in volume, until at length it was so much smaller that reduction was 

 attempted — it being anticipated that the haemorrhage would cease when this was achieved. 

 But though reposition of the uterus was ultimately accomplished, the blood still con- 

 tinued to flow, and soon its interior was so distended as to induce new expulsive efforts, 

 which terminated in the uterus being again inverted. It was in vain that attempts to 

 check the bleeding were made by abundant affusions of acidulated cold water ; the ani- 

 mal became weak, staggered about, fell, and died without the haemorrhage being checked 

 in the slightest degree. 



The whole of the performance "did not occupy more than half an hour. This occurred 

 at the commencement of Saint-Cyr's professional career, and it taught him a lesson as 

 to the danger of scarification — in the jNIare at least — in inversion of the uterus. 



5. Peuch (Saint-Cyr, Op. cit., p. 6oo) was sent for at mid-day in haste, to see a Mare 

 which could not foal. The animal was found standing, the head drooping, eyes half- 

 closed, and exhibiting great prostration ; it was much emaciated. The owner said that 

 from time to time it strained, but nothing appeared; the "waters" had escaped in the 

 morning. Exploration found the hind-limbs engaged in the vagina; they were secured, 

 and by traction a foal was readily extracted, but it was dead. No sooner was delivery 

 effected, however, than the Mare sank on the ground, and at the same time there appeared 

 at the vulva an enormous mass, which in a second or two descended to the hocks : in a 

 few seconds complete inversion of the uterus had taken place, and from the mucous 

 membrane, which was now external, an abundance of blood oozed and streamed — bright- 

 red, like arterial blood. In presence of such a formidable haemorrhage, there was not a 

 moment to lose. The owner, who was the only assistant present, was requested to get 

 the Mare up, and this was happily accomplished without very much difficulty, when 

 Peuch seized the uterus with both hands, and in a few minutes the organ was reduced. 

 As soon as this was effected the bleeding ceased. To prevent a relapse, Peuch kept his 

 irm in the uterus for about a quarter of an hour, when it was cautiously withdrawn and 

 ao more blood flowed. A good bed of litter — higher behind than before — was then 

 prepared, and on this the Mare was led and its head secured to the rack, to prevent ly- 

 ing down. It was watched for several hours, during which it received some gruel. On 

 the next day, an injection of dilate perchloride of iron was administered, and afterwards 



