622 ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL TO PARTURITION. 



very unsatisfactory. Very little can be done to check the haemorrhage, if 

 it is great, and consecutive peritonitis is always a most serious complica- 

 tion. 



If the fcetus remains within the peritoneal sac, a favorable termination 

 can scarcely be hoped for ; though in some rare instances, if air does not 

 obtain access to the cavity of the uterus or abdomen, it is possible that it 

 may terminate in all the various ways of extra-uterine pregnancy. If the 

 fcetus is extracted, the rent may heal up ; though this is very unlikely if 

 the edges are much contused, and the animal will, in all probability, 

 perish from consecutive purulent peritonitis. 



If the fcetus is still wholly or partially in the uterus, it and its 

 envelopes must be extracted without delay, and as gently as possible ; as 

 haemorrhage will probably only cease with the contraction of the organ. 

 If the uterus does not contract, but remains flaccid after removal of the 

 placenta, then it maybe stimulated to do so by introducing the hand 

 into the interior for some time, after removing the coagula. If this fails, 

 and the rupture is not in the floor of the uterus, small pieces of ice, cold 

 water, or astringents may be introduced, and ergot of rye administered ; 

 a jet of cold water should be allowed to play upon the loins, wherever 

 the rupture may be. If there is hernia of the intestines, these, of course, 

 must be promptly returned into the abdominal cavity, before any thing is 

 done to the uterus. 



Some authorities advise that the uterus should be gently inverted and 

 brought outside the vulva, in order that the rent maybe closed by suture, 

 and then return it. But this course is not to be recommended, as it is 

 very dangerous, and the wound will unite without sutures if the organ 

 contracts and no complications follow. 



The cavity of the uterus should be swabbed with a weak solution of 

 carbolic acid (i to loo, up to 250) ; and to prevent septic infection by 

 admission of air, a pledget of carbolized lint or tow should be placed in 

 the OS or vagina, and changed nov»^ and again. 



Straining must be subdued by doses of opium or chloral, or the subcu- 

 taneous injection of morphia ; and the diet must be carefully attended 

 to. If there is constipation, mild laxatives and enemas may be admin- 

 istered. Consecutive fever and peritonitis must be treated by cold, and 

 large doses of anodynes — such as opium, as well as counter-irritants. 

 Metritis must be treated in the same manner, by the gentle injection of 

 cold water ; or the introduction of small pieces of ice into the genital 

 canal will be beneficial. Should symptoms of septic infection appear, 

 stimulants, with small doses of carbolic acid and sulphite of soda, must 

 be given. 



When the foetus has passed through the rent into the abdominal 

 cavity, d^Mv^ry per vias natur ales is then impossible, and the Caesarean 

 section must be resorted to ; unless it be decided to allow the animal to 

 take its chance, and get rid of the fcetus as in extra-uterine foetation, 

 should it survive the accident. 



Rupture of the Uterus after Parturition. 



Rupture of the uterus after parturition generally complicates inversion 

 of the organ and is due to mechanical injury either on the part of 

 amateurs, or even of the veterinary surgeon, when endeavoring to re- 

 place it j sometimes it is produced by the animal itself, or by other 



