588 ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL TO PARTURITION, 



is by far the best for reducing the inversion, there being more space in 

 the abdomen when its walls are not compressed by the ground, and the 

 obstetrist can operate more easily and quickly, while the downward in- 

 clination of the lower surface of the pelvis and abdomen is favorable for 

 reduction and retention. If the animal is not very feverish, but only 

 debilitated, and there is otherwise no great urgency in the case, a strong 

 diffusible stimulant may be administered, with the view to enabling it to 

 get up. It may also be induced to rise by bringing a dog before it ; or 

 it may be aided by a sack or sheet passed under its chest. 



If it cannot be made to get up, or is unable to stand when raised, then 

 of course reposition must be effected while it is lying — fatiguing, and 

 often troublesome, as the operation then is. This fatigue and difficulty 

 may be somewhat diminished in raising the hind-quarters of the animal 

 as much as possible, by means of bundles of straw placed under them, — 

 all the litter being removed from beneath the abdomen, so as to relieve 

 the viscera it contains from pressure as much as possible. Cosse, 

 Tyvaert, Haubner, Andersen, and others advise placing the animal on its 

 back, with the croup so raised ; while Viborg, Fassler, Bettinger, Ober- 

 mayer, Hering, Merkt, Adam, and several other obstetrists, recommend 

 raising or suspending the animal by the hind limbs, over a beam — a pro- 

 cedure which, they assert, is most adv^tageous when reposition is possible 

 or advisable. But as has just been said, the recumbent position, with 

 the larger animals, is always to be avoided when possible, and every 

 means should be tried to get them to stand. With the smaller animals 

 — as the Sheep, Goat, Sow, Bitch, or Cat — it is convenient to place them 

 on a bench or table, and lying either on the side or back, with the hind- 

 quarters well raised. 



If the accident is recent — an hour or two, or even a little longer — the 

 uterus may be returned at once \ but should a longer interval have 

 elapsed, it is well to ascertain the condition of the rectum and bladder, 

 and to empty them if necessary ; though it must be confessed that it. is 

 often a most difficult task to accomplish evacuation of the bladder. It 

 may be done, however, by causing assistants to raise the uterus, and to 

 seek for the meatus urinarius on its lower surface, near the vulva, intro- 

 ducing one or two fingers into that canal, or a catheter through it into 

 the bladder. 



Should the fcEtal membranes still be adherent to the uterine surface — 

 wholly or partially — then they must be carefully removed without injur- 

 ing the cotyledons, enucleation being effected in the manner already 

 described. If properly performed, this removal should not cause any 

 haemorrhage ; and if any pulpy gangrenous cotyledons are found, it is 

 better to remove them at once with scissors than kave them to be elimi- 

 nated in the ordinary way ; though if they show any vitality at all they 

 need not be interfered with. Torn or gangrenous portions of mucous 

 membrane are also to be excised in the same manner. 



This done, the uterus should be cleansed from matters adhering to its 

 surface — such as litter, mud, dirt, filth or blood ; and this may be effected 

 by means of a fine soft sponge or cloth, the fluid employed being either 

 cold or tepid water, milk and water, some astringent or soothing lotion, if 

 there is much tumefaction or irritation, or a stimulating fluid— as the 

 dilute tincture of opium — if the organ is much bruised and congested. 

 Some practitioners immerse the entire uterus in a bucket containing 

 either of these fluids ; and some particularly prefer cold w^ater, allowing 



