TRAUMATIC LESIONS OF THE GENITAL ORGANS, ETC. 631 



had exhibited, from time to time, and chiefly during the night, symptoms of colic, which 

 gradually became more marked and frequent, until on the day of foaling it had seven 

 actacks. On the evening of that day appeared the expulsive efforts, and soon the anus 

 began to dilate in an extraordinary manner, until the two fore-limbs of the foetus ap- 

 peared at the opening, and then the head showed itself. At last, under the influence of 

 a violent effort, the anus, which seemed to have attained its extreme limit of dilatation, 

 tore, and gave exit to a well-formed and lively foal. 



When Ory arrived, the poor Mare was in a state of great prostration. The sphincter 

 ^z;// was lacerated to the extent of four inches; the rupture extending obliquely down- 

 wards and outwards, and from right to left, passing through the skin, and exposing a 

 portion of the left semimembranosus muscle, though the perinaeum was uninjured. On 

 introducing the hand into the vagina, it was noted that this and the rectum formed to- 

 gether one vast cavity, containing a certain quantity of well-moulded faecal pellets. The 

 anus, which had been so violently dilated, remained wide and flaccid. Ory did not at- 

 tempt to repair thes« enormous lacerations, but limited his treatment to removing, three 

 times a day, and by hand, the faecal pellets which fell into the vagina ; to cleansing the 

 cavity as thoroughly as possible, and to injecting a mixture of oil, carbolic acid, and an 

 infusion of elder-flowers ; while the external wound was dressed with a decoction of 

 oak bark, to which acetate of lead was added. This treatment was continued for fifteen 

 days, and in about three weeks the external laceration was almost cicatrized ; the ani- 

 mal's health was good ; but the vagina and rectum remained as a single cavity, and 

 forming a kind of cloaca, where the faeces accumulated. 



The owner stated that, since the accident, the Mare could only be worked at a slow 

 pace on the farm. As soon as it began to trot, a noise was heard, due to the air rush- 

 ing out and in to the fistula. Then the animal became tympanitic, and evinced symp- 

 toms of colic. Then, also, the urine and faeces were sometimes ejected simultaneously 

 from the anus, which was always dilated ; but these i^assed by their natural channel 

 when the Mare was at rest. 



9. Schrader {Magazin fiir die Gesamtnte Thierheilkunde, 1837, p. 261) was requested 

 to examine a six-year-old Mare, which had been purchased a few divs previously. 

 When the animal micturated, faecal pellets came away at the same lime. A rectal ex- 

 ploration, as far as the arm could be inserted, did not discover any thmj amiss, until, on 

 withdrawing it with the fingers downwards, an opening has encountered, wliich led in 

 an oblique direction from the rectum to the upper part of the vagina. A finger could 

 be easily passed from the vagina into the rectum. The opening was about an inch in di- 

 ameter, but it could be readily dilated ; its borders were even and smooth, and the ani- 

 mal did not evince any pain when they were touched. The Mare had produced one foal. 

 The fasces were tolerably well retained in the rectum, but flatus always passed through 

 the vagina. 



10. Hawthorn ( Veterinarian, vol. vii., p. 28) was sent for to see a Mare which was re- 

 ported to have the foal " coming the wrong way." Hawthorn was struck with the sin- 

 gularity of the case. " The foal was protruded as far as the middle of the chest, and 

 the fore-legs were almost a yard asunder — one hanging down towards the thighs, and 

 the other standing up above the tail. The body of the foal was lying on its off-side : 

 of course it was dead. The left leg had, in the act of foaling, been forced through the 

 rectum, and then through the anus." The Mare was cold and feeble ; the pulse was 

 scarcely perceptible, and the animal appeared to be sinking rapidly. It was decided to 

 extract the foetus by embryotomy. " The nearest place which was suitable for the opera- 

 tion, was a barn a quarter of a mile distant, to which ^he was immediately walked ; and 

 as I followed her, and witnessed her staggering gait, I felt as if she was going to execu- 

 tion. She was thrown, and pulleyed up to a joist. The near leg of the foal was dis- 

 sected off at the knee, and, by the right hand, forced back into the vagina, where it was 

 received by my left hand, and drawn a little forward. As the only obstacle to the foal- 

 ing was now removed, the remaining part of the operation was soon accomplished, and 

 the Mare got on her legs. The wound through the rectum was terrific, as I had easily 

 passed my arm through it. She was then walked home, and seemed much better." 

 The animal was dieted on wet bran and clover for a week. The rectum was emptied 

 manually two or three times a day, and the vagina washed out. " The faeces which es- 

 caped through the wound into the vagina were not wholly expelled ; it was therefore 

 necessary to cleanse the vaginal passage. The wound in the rectum healed very rap- 

 idly, and' the Mare never exhibited any unfavorable symptoms after the extraction of 

 the foal." The animal, soon after, was put to work, as if nothing had happened. 



ir. Morgan {Ibid., vol. xxviii., p. 397) was hastily sent for to see a Mare which was 

 foaling, but the foal was "coming the wrong way." When he arrived he found the ani- 

 mal lying down, groaning, and straining violently, and the head, neck, and one fore-leg of 

 the foal through "the rectum, and the other fore-leg through the vulva. The Mare was 

 induced to get up, hobbles were applied, and then the parts of the foetus protruding be* 



