6o8 ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL TO PARTURITION. 



from their orbits ; it flexed its hind limbs like a horse attacked with par- 

 aplegia, and it was impossible to get near it. These symptoms appear to 

 have been caused by the intense pain ; though they gradually subsided 

 and the animal ultimately recovered. 



In many instances no unusual symptoms have been observed, and the 

 mother has anxiously occupied itself with its progeny. This has been 

 noticed with the Sow. 



After the operation the cows appear to have fatted well ; and when 

 killed, in those which were examined large masses of fat have been found 

 in the place of the uterus, and filling the pelvis. 



It may be remarked that in one case recorded — in the Cow — a portion 

 of intestine had become prolapsed with the uterus, the interior of the sack 

 of which it occupied ; another similar occurrence was noticed in a Bitch. 

 Franck insists on this complication being always looked for in the Mare, 

 and he recommends that this animal be always either narcotized by mor- 

 phia or chloroform, so as to get rid of the violent straining to which it 

 yields itself. 



An exploratory incision may then be made in the body of the uterus, 

 and if any intestine is found in its interior, this must be returned to the 

 abdomen before amputation is ventured upon. 



From among the many recorded cases, we select the following as ex^ 

 amples : 



1. Barker in 1841 ( Veterinarian, vol. xiv., p. 444), gives one of the earliest instances 

 of this operation in England. The patient was a Sow, which, after producing nine 

 young ones, had the uterus inverted. No attempt was made to replace it, and a ligature 

 being tied tightly round its pedicle, the organ was cut away, leaving a small portion of 

 it protruding. No haemorrhage followed. It soon after took some gruel and then 

 ordinary food, suckled its young, and was recovering rapidly when it was attacked by 

 aphthous fever. It ultimately did well, and became very fat. 



2. Gregory [Ibid., vol. xvii., p. 422) amputated the uterus of a Sow, the organ being so 

 torn after complete inversion, and the animal being so prostrate, that no other course 

 was open. A ligature was applied to the " uterine vessels," and the uterus excised. An 

 opiate dose was administered, and laxative medicine, and recovery soon took place. 



3. Gardner [Ibid., p. 485) amputated the inverted uterus of a Ewe, as the organ was 

 always extruded when returned. " I commenced as high as I could, tying the uterine 

 arteries as I came to them, and stitched the cut edges together in order to prevent an 

 effusion of the intestines. No more care was taken with her than usual, and in ten 

 days' time she was caught for me to look at her, when I found that adhesion had taken 

 place, and she was as well as ever." 



4. This veterinarian {loc. cit.) had to operate in the same manner on a Cow, whose 

 inverted uterus had been injured by rough handling, and the labia of the vulva torn by 

 sutures. The animal recovered and fattened well. 



5 Cleveland [Ibid., vol. xx., p. 378) attended a Sow which had farrowed four days 

 previously. The entire uterus was inverted and the mucous membrane lacerated. " A 

 ligature was applied as far forward within the vagina as convenient, including the 

 ovaries ; and then, with a sharp knife, the whole of the protruded uterus was removed. 

 The animal sickened for a few days ; then her appetite returned." Recovery was com- 

 plete. 



6. Dickens {Ibid., xxviii., p. 130) records the case of a fine sow which brought forth 

 a litter of twelve, and inversion of the uterus soon ensued. The organ had been twice 

 returned, and the labia sutured, but without avail, and it was rapidly becoming gan- 

 grenous. Two strong ligatures were placed round the cervix uteri, and then the organ 

 was excised. The creature was kept warm and carefully nursed. It soon partook of 

 some milk and peas, and the mammary secretion gradually returned, so that the young 

 family were all suckled. Afterwards the Sow arrived at great "bacon weight." 



7. Leech {Ibid., vol. xxxix., p. 790) attended a pointer Bitch which had pupped several 

 days previously, and the uterus had become inverted. It had been returned several times 

 before he was called in, and the organ was so swollen that he could not replace it. 

 " Upon careful examination, and after passing the catheter. I found that the bladder 

 was included in the mass; therefore I made •'an incision in the body of the uterus, and 



