TRAUMATIC LESIONS OF THE GENITAL ORGANS, ETC. 621 



picioii of the existence of rupture. Thus, the expulsive efforts are very 

 energetic and regular up to a certain period, when all at once they cease ; 

 the animal begins to manifest symptoms of abdominal pain — lying down 

 and getting up, stamping and pawing, looking towards its flanks, moving 

 about uneasily, moaning, bellowing, neighing, or even screaming, when 

 the rupture occurs. 



Non-penetrating lacerations do not, as a rule, give rise to very 

 marked symptoms immediately ; though subsequently they may produce 

 metritis or metro-peritonitis, or induce septic infection. Their presence 

 is not easily diagnosed during life. 



In some few instances, the existedice of complete rupture has been 

 ascertained by manual exploration of the uterus ; in others it has been 

 discovered de visu in inversion of the organ. The pulse soon becomes 

 feeble if there is much haemorrhage, and exhaustion quickly supeivenes. 

 If death does not occur promptly, acute fever ensues, and symptoms of 

 peritonitis or septic infection. 



The complications attending this accident are always serious, and ren- 

 der the prognosis unfavorable in nearly every case. When, however, the 

 laceration occurs at the upper part or sides of the uterus, the accident is 

 not so grave as when the floor of the organ is involved ; if the os remains 

 closed, so as 'to prevent the admission of air, the circumstance is still 

 more favorable, though this can- rarely indeed be the case. 



The chief cojnplications are hcEmorrhage, hernia of the intestines, 2LXiA peri- 

 tonitis. 



Death from direct hcemorrhage is less frequent than might be antici- 

 pated, knowing the great vascularity of the uterus at parturition. This 

 unfrequency is explained by the fact, that bleeding from such a laceration 

 is less profuse than from an incised wound of the same dimensions. 

 Nearly always, too, the foetus is partially or entirely expelled from the 

 uterus into the abdominal cavity, or is born immediately after the acci- 

 dent, and the organ then may firmly contract. 



Nevertheless, in some instances, the haemorrhage is so great that a 

 fatal termination soon takes place, with all the symptoms already 

 described at page 577. 



Hernia of the intestines ozcxxx^ when the rent is somewhat large, and 

 the uterus, flaccid and uncontracted, allows these viscera to enter its 

 cavity — they being propelled therein by the action of the abdominal 

 muscles. In some instances the intestinal mass received into the uterus 

 has been so large that they have passed through the vagina and vulva, 

 reached the ground, and the animal has trodden upon them — thus has- 

 tening death ; while in others, the hernia has been reduced and the crea- 

 ture survived. 



Peritonitis may be primary or secondary. ^\\&n primary, it is due to 

 the escape of blood, the foetal fluids or envelopes, or the foetus itself. 

 When secondary, or consecutive, it may result either from the extension of 

 the inflammation to the peritoneum, or the discharge of the lochia, pus, 

 etc., from the interior of the organ. 



The escape of fluids from the uterus is, of course, more likely to take 

 place when the rupture is inferior than when lateral or superior. Death 

 is nearly always the result of peritonitis or metro-peritonitis. 



Treatment. 



The treatment of rupture of the uterus during parturition is generally 



