INVERSION OF THE UTERUS. 



603 



legs, and either by means of' tapes attached to it, or, if sufficiently long, 

 by splitting up the end to a short distance so as to make two strips of it, 

 and fastening the piece to the ends already tied beneath the belly. 



It must be acknowledged that these trusses, no matter how skilfully 

 they may be contrived or however well they may be adjusted, will not hin- 

 der vaginal inversion of the uterus ; all they can do is to prevent the 

 organ from being suddenly protruded beyond the vulva again, and so ex- 

 posed to the air and the irritating effects of extraneous matters bef(fre it 

 could be returned once more. This alone, however, is an important ob- 

 ject achieved, and is a great step towards permanent retention. Be- 

 sides, by maintaining the labia of the vulva in close apposition, the truss, 

 if well applied, prevents the admission of air into the genital canal ; and 

 thus does away with one source of irritation. And as the apparatus does 

 not cause any pain or inconvenience to the animal, it is for these reasons 

 to be preferred to any other means for maintaining the reposition of the 

 uterus. 



Fig. 205. 



Lund's Truss Applied. 



With regard to the best kind of bandage, this is of secondary impor- 

 tance to its proper application. • Simplicity and efficiency are the desider- 

 ata, and these will be found, we believe, in the trusses we have described, 

 and particularly in those of Renault and Lund. 



If reposition of the uterus is properly effected, and the truss well ap- 

 plied, there is but little reason to apprehend a recurrence of the accident. 



After-Treatment. 



When the uterus has been returned to its natural situation, an antisep- 

 tic injection or ''swabbing" of the interior accomplished if deemed ne- 

 cessary, and precautions against a recurrence of the inversion adopted, 

 little more remains to be done except to observe some simple directions, 

 which are to be followed out for a few days after reposition. 



