INVERSION OF THE BLADDER. 



615 



by practising a kind of saddler's stitch around it, by means of two needles 

 armed with a waxed thread ; and when sewn round, the two ends of the 

 ligature were drawn so tight as to raise the enclosed sides of the tumor 

 into plaits like the mouth of a tied sack ; they were then firmly joined. 

 The filly was kept standing with the hinder part of the body raised, and 

 the tumor was dressed with chlorinated water and vinegar. Between the 

 seventh and eighth days the mass came away ; the discharge diminished 

 in quantity and foetidness, and on the tenth day the animal was nearly 

 well. 



Saint-Cyr mentions that Bernard operated upon a female Ass, which 

 had the vagina inverted for more than a month, and every means- of 

 retention had failed. Amputatipn was practised, by a circular incision 

 around the base of the tumor. At the first cut of the bistoury, it was 

 observ^ed that the mucous membrane was very much thickened, and easily 

 detached from the other parts ; so that, instead of making a total ampu- 

 tation, it was considered better to make it only partial, by dissecting 

 away all that fissue to the extent of four or five inches. This was done, 

 and the haemorrhage was inconsiderable ; but it persisted so long after- 

 wards that the animal was seized with symptoms of syncope. However, 

 these symptoms passed away, and the creature began to eat. A rope 

 truss was applied, and for eight days there was a discharge of pus. At 

 the end of that time, when the truss was removed, recovery was found to 

 be complete. On exploring the vagina some time afterwards, a thick but 

 dilatable ring, about the middle of the vagina, was found, through which 

 first one finger, than two and three, could be passed. Beyond this ring 

 the canal was normal in width. 



There can be no doubt, then, that the inverted vagina may be ampu- 

 tated without much risk, when reduction is impossible or incomplete ; but 

 whether an animal which has undergone this operation can be utilized 

 for breeding purposes after\vards, we have no evidence to. prove. It 

 is possible that the cicatricial tissue uniting the wound maybe sufficiently 

 yielding to allow of gradual dilatation by manual or mechanical means, 

 and thus not offer much impediment to impregnation or parturition. 



CHAPTER V. 

 Inversion of the Bladder — Prolapsus Vesicae. 



At page 337, we have alluded to inversion of the bladder as occurring 

 before parturition, and described the symptoms and treatment of this 

 accident. The remarks we there made are applicable to the accident 

 when it follows delivery. It is of somewhat rare occurrence, and is per- 

 haps more frequently met with in the Mare than the Cow. 



We have jDarticularly insisted upon the necessity for a careful examina- 

 tion of these vulvar tumors before adopting any surgical measures ; and 

 this precaution is above all things necessary in this accident, as an inci- 

 sion in this viscus is certain to lead to a fatal termination : of this we 

 have given an illustration in page 339. 



Reduction must be attempted according to the directions given at page 

 338, and care, must be taken not to lacerate the organ, as this also will 



