TRAUMATIC LESIONS OF THE GENITAL ORGANS, ETC. 627 



of the uterus ; though occasionally it may be so serious as to endanger 

 the life of the animal. 



Hernia of the intestine occurs when perforation of the vaginal wall, near 

 the cervix, is complete, and the peritoneal cavity is opened. This is a 

 serious complication, as is also hernia of the bladder, which may happen 

 when the rent is adjacent to that viscus ; though in the case alluded to 

 by Riviere (page 616) it was deemed a fortunate circumstance that cysto- 

 cele was present, as the bladder effectually closed the rupture in the 

 vagina, and thus prevented the escape of the lochial and other fluids into 

 the abdominal cavity. 



Peritonitis and pelvic cellulitis are also very serious complications suc- 

 ceeding laceration, and are a consequence either of the extension of 

 vaginal inflammation to the neighboring tissues, or the escape of septic 

 matters or inflammatory products into the pelvic connective tissue or the 

 peritoneal cavity. 



So that if extensive laceration of the vagina does not produce rapid 

 death, there are other grave dangers to be apprehended from either present 

 or subsequent complications. The inflammation of the vagina and sub- 

 mucous tissues, with suppuration and partial gangrene, may lead to the 

 formation of fistula, or even of wide-spread destruction of the soft parts 

 in the pelvic cavity, which sooner or later induce a fatal termination. 

 Should this not occur, and some of the neighboring organs have been 

 injured at the same time as the vagina, then we may have such important 

 damage as to render the animal nearly valueless. We will refer to some 

 of these injuries presently. 



The symptoms of injury to the vagina and neighboring organs will, of 

 course, vary with their nature and extent. 



Much constitutional disturbance is generally only manifested when the 

 lesions are serious, or when septic infection has taken place. Small 

 rents may not give rise to any perceptible derangement, except, perhaps, 

 a little fever and tumefaction \ but if they extend deeply into the con- 

 nective tissue, then acute fever, infiltration, and other grave symptoms 

 may supervene. 



With regard to treatment. This also must depend upon circumstances. 



When rupture of the vagina is recognized during parturition, delivery 

 should be eftected as speedily as possible, and with every care, in order 

 to prevent the laceration extending and the foetus passing into it. If, un- 

 fortunately, some part of the latter has lodged in the rent, it must be re- 

 moved therefrom with the utmost precaution, so as not to injure other 

 viscera. The foetal membranes should also be extracted as soon as pos- 

 sible. If there is heemorrhage from the vagina, this may be suppressed 

 by ice or injections of cold water if the rent is superior or lateral ; if it is 

 inferior, then a sponge or a cloth soaked in cold water should be placed 

 in the canal. Should there be hernia of the bladder or intestines, these 

 must be replaced at once. 



In all cases of wounds, abrasions, or rupture of the vagina, every pre- 

 caution should be observed with a view to the prevention of septic infec- 

 tion. With this object the greatest cleanliness must be observed, all 

 decomposing matters, or matters likely to decompose, should, if possible, 

 be scrupulously removed, and injections or " swabbings " with weak solu- 

 tions of carbolic acid or other disinfectants, practised. If there is much 

 danger of haemorrhage, a suitable tampon of lint or fine tow, saturated 

 in these fluids, may be allowed to remain in the vagina for some time. 



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