INVERSION OF THE UTERUS. 589 



the organ to remain in it for as long as five or ten minutes. By tliis 

 means it is freed from extraneous matters and cleansed ; while the con- 

 gestation is allayed and the mass considerably reduced in size.* Meyer, 

 Pfirter, and others state that this immersion in cold water has an astonish- 

 ing effect, and greatly facilitates reposition. Schnee even recommends 

 the application of ice, which, he asserts, not only diminishes the volume of 

 the protruded organ, but allays its irritability and contractions. When 

 attempting to reduce the cornu or uterus, he holds a piece of ice in the 

 hand he applies to the part. 



If from long inversion and consequent congestion, infiltration, or in- 

 flammation, the volume of the uterus is so increased that it appears 

 impossible to return it, scarifications may be made on its surface ; these 

 often lead to a notable decrease in its size, and reduction may then be 

 effected. If it is determined to scarify the organ, the greatest circum- 

 spection should be observed in making the incisions ; they must be quite 

 superficial, and only a few at a time. Should the hagmorrhage prove ex- 

 cessive — which it sometimes does, when the scarifications are deep and 

 numerous — then styptics must be applied. 



If the uterus is torn, it may be necessary to close the wound by the 

 continuous suture — but this must not be drawn too tight ; mere apposition 

 of the edges being all that is necessary. If the wound is not extensive, 

 it need not be closed ; indeed, there are many cases on record in which 

 wounds of the uterus have not been sutured — the organ having been 

 merely returned to the abdominal cavity, and yet recovery has taken 

 place. 



If hernia of the intestine or any other viscus in present, then, of course, 

 this must be reduced before the uterus. 



Reduction or Reposition. 



When inversion of the uterus is incomplete — a very rare occurrence — 

 and the organ has not passed beyond the vagina, reduction is compara- 

 tively easy. It is sufficient, with the larger animals, to introduce the 

 closed fist" into the vagina, and to push the uterus as far into the abdo- 

 men as may be deemed necessary. When the animal strains, the opera- 

 tor must not push, but maintaining what he has accomplished as well as 

 he can, recommence as soon as the expulsive effort has ceased. Whether 

 inversion is complete or incomplete, and if the animal is standing or 

 lying, it is always well to have the hind-parts higher than the fore. 



When it is complete, then four assistants are necessary. One of these 

 stands at the animal's head, and holds it firmly — if a Cow he may seize 

 it by a horn with one hand and nasal septum by the other ; if it is a 

 Mare, a twitch on the nose or ear may be required, and it may even be 

 necessary to have a side-line on one of the hind-limbs. Another assistant 

 holds the tail over the croup with one hand, and with the other he presses 

 or pinches the loins in order to diminish the straining ; while a man 

 stands at each side of the croup to aid in raising and returning the uterus. 

 It is well to attract the animal's attention as miich as possible, as it then 

 offers less opposition to the manipulations, and does not strain so vio- 



* A little care on the part of owners of animals would often prove of great advantage in averting serious 

 consequences in such an accident as inversion of the uterus, beiore the arrival of the veterinary surgeon. 

 This care should be mainly directed to keeping the animal in a standing attitude ; and preventing the uterus 

 from being soiled, bruised or torn, as well as swollen. The or^an may readily and easily be preserved 

 from injury by receiving it on a sheet or large cloth, or, better still, a basket or tray, and holding it well 

 raised until prof.'ssional assistance arrives. 



