INVERSION OF THE UTERUS, 585 



most frequently the animal may live from three to five days — very rarely 

 longer. Sabini {younial des Vetir. du Midi, 1869, p. 175), an Italian 

 veterinarian, cites a case in which treatment was not adopted until the 

 seventh day ; but this is an altogether exceptional instance. 



Inversion of the uterus is generally fatal when owners of animals have 

 neglected to procure assistance until too late, or who employ ignorant 

 people to attempt reduction. If attended to sufficiently early by those 

 who are competent, the number of recoveries is considerable, and, as 

 Saint-Cyr truly observes, perhaps in no other pathological condition is 

 the utility and power of art, when invoked at the proper time, better 

 demonstrated. 



The prognosis is not equally favorable, however, in all the domesti- 

 cated animals ; and between the Mare and Cow, for instance, the differ- 

 ence is considerable. 



With regard to the latter animal, Deneubourg, who has often had to 

 treat this accident, has never lost one of his patients. In one hundred 

 cases, Donnarieix has only had three deaths. Moens, in twenty-seven 

 cases, has not had a fatal termination. Guillaume, cited by Gelle, lost 

 three cases out of forty-two : Loyer, of Nemours, nine out of twenty- 

 seven ; and Mazure, Holland, one in four. 



With regard to the mare, Donnarieix had eight cases, and all perished ; 

 Cruzel had three, and they also succumbed ; Schaack only saved one of 

 two. 



In 249 cases of prolapsus uteri in the Cow, collected by Saint-Cyr, 

 there were 30 deaths — or a mortality of 12 per cent. For the Mare he 

 only found 19 cases, and of these 14 were fatal — a mortality of 74 per 

 cent. 



A number of authorities quoted by Zundel give the percentage of re- 

 coveries in the Cow as 97, and in the Mare as 50. 



It would, therefore, appear, and it is no doubt true, that this accident 

 is much more fatal in the Mare than the Cow. 



Inversion in the Sow is nearly always fatal, unless amputation of the 

 uterus is resorted to ; but this animal and the Bitch will live, in very 

 rare cases, for two, three, or four days with the uterus prolapsed. 



It has often been stated that inversion of the uterus leads to infecun- 

 dity ; but though it may do so- in some instances, yet it cannot be ac- 

 cepted as a rule. Numerous cases are on record, and particularly for 

 the Cow and Bitch, in which fecundation has taken place after this acci- 

 dent. 



Though inversion is likely to recur after another pregnancy, or even 

 during a succeeding gestation, yet even in this case it is not invariably 

 so ; though to avert it care may be necessary. 



Causes. 



Inversion of the uterus is generally consecutive to parturition, and is 

 most frequent in the Cow, w^iose uterine ligaments are so extensive and 

 extensible. It usually occurs within two or three days after parturition, 

 rarely later. 



With multiparous animals, in which each uterine cornu forms a kind of 

 independent uterus, it can be understood that one of these may alone be 

 inverted, the foetus contained in the other cornu being retained there for 

 some time — though not without danger to its existence should this oeriod 

 be much prolonged. 



