634 ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL TO PARTURITION 



The line representing the recto-vaginal septum divided the cavity, in the form of a small, 

 red and irregular ring. The mucous membrane was ecchymosed and very congested ; 

 the cervix was seriously inflamed. For fifteen days nothing was done but merely keep- 

 ing the parts clean. At this time the inflammation in the borders of the external wound 

 had disappeared, and repair was going on along the perineal rupture ; internally, the 

 mucous membrane had nearly assumed its normal appearance, and scarcely any thing 

 remained of the vagino-rectal diaphragm ; there was no suppuration or ulceration. 

 Dupont then decided to resort to autoplasty to repair the serious damage, and fixed on 

 the Indian method. "I slowly introduced my left hand into the vagina, and extended 

 the canal by pressing strongly on its sides. The right hand, armed with long fine scissors, 

 pared to the blood the edges of what remained of the septum. Then with a needle armed 

 with a waxed thread, I commenced to bring these edges together by suture, the sutures 

 being eight in number ... I then passed to the perineal laceration. With the 

 scissors, I destroyed all the granulations as low as the skin. I then applied sutures, se- 

 curing each by a distinct knot . , . covering the whole externally with a thick layer of 

 collodion." 



Every care was taken to ensure success, and for eight days every thing appeared to be 

 going on favorably ; but on the ninth day it was observed that some of the recto-vaginal 

 sutures had given way, and that the wound had not united ; and in two days afterwards 

 all the sutures had sloughed through, without the least union having been effected. 

 Nothing discouraged by this failure, Dupont again resorted to sutures, and when the 

 edges were once more brought into apposition by them, with a curved bistoury he cut 

 through the vaginal mucous membrane parallel to the sutures, but at a few lines from 

 the roof, in order to diminish the tension. For fifteen days all went on satisfactorily, 

 and success appeared to be certain, when the same result ensued. Dupont then gave 

 up the case, and the Mare, which had been in excellent health during the seventh 

 month's trial, was set to work. 



4. Andre [AnnalSs de Med. Vitirinaire de Bruxellcs, 1864) was summoned to aid in the 

 delivery of a Mare, ten years old, whose foal was being expelled through the anus. 

 "When he arrived it had been delivered, and did not appear indisposed; the foal was 

 well and lively. The birth, which was spontaneous, appeared to have been very rapid ; 

 for the servant, as soon as he saw the feet of the foal appear at the anus, ran for his 

 master, and when he returned the foal was born. On examining the Mare, Andre found 

 a complete rupture of the perinasum, and, consequently, a total absence of any septum 

 between the annus and vulva — the rectum and vagina being merely one large open- 

 ing. It was also, observed that this lesion involved the contiguous walls of these parts 

 to some extent ; and on separating the labia of the vulva the cervix uteri could be seen. 

 The faeces were passed by the vulva. 



No attempt at repair was made, and treatment was merely directed towards subduing 

 inflammation. A month afterwards the wounds were cicatrized, but not united. The 

 general heUlth was good, but defecation took place by the vulva more frequently than 

 usual, and involuntarily. 



5. Jouet {Rec. de Med. Veterinaire, 1873, p. 56) gives the detailed history of a Mare 

 belonging to Prince Ney, of Moscow, and with which, during parturition, the foal could 

 not pass through the vagina, in consequence of the narrowness of that canal ; it there- 

 fore passed into the rectum, and was born through the anus. About eighteen months 

 after this accident, the rupture, which established a communication between the rectum 

 and vagina, was ten inches in length, and formed an infundibulum in which the faeces 

 accumulated before being expelled by the vulva. The anus appeared to be inert, and 

 did not act. The clitoris was hypertrophied. Notwithstanding this infirmity, the Mare 

 lived for many years, and neither suffered in health or vigor. It was even fecundated 

 without accident, and brought forth a foal with ease. When put to the stallion a second 

 time, however, it received serious injury, lost condition, fell into a state of marasmus, 

 and died. 



6. Saint-Cyr {Op. Cit., p. 665) states that the internal clinic of the Lyons Veterinary 

 School received a Mare, five years old, and a primipara, which had brought forth its 

 ioz\per anum, under the following circumstances. Six days previously it exhibited the 

 first signs of parturition. Soon the two fore-feet of the foetus appeared at the vulva, 

 and quickly after the nose appeared, but at the anus. While the proprietor was in 

 search of a veterinary surgeon, the foal was born without any assistance. It soon died, 

 and when the surgeon came he saw an immen.se rupture in the Mare, comprising the 

 perinasum and the whole of the recto-vaginal septum. Otherwise the Mare did not ap- 

 pear to be much disturbed, but ate and drank heartily. The veterinary surgeon declared 

 that he could do nothing for the animal ; consequently it was sent to the Veterinary 

 School. When it reached there, nothing particular was observed except a slight swel- 

 ling of the left hind-leg, which caused marked lameness. On raising the tail there was 

 immediately observed a considerable tumefaction of the vulva and anus, then a complete 



