INJURIES OF THE UTERUS, VAGINA AND VULVA 301 



also follow when the head of the calf is pushed back into the 

 uterus to gain room, and forcibly extracting the fore leg from 

 the skin (Tapken). 



The application of the obstetrical crutch may also lead to 

 rupture of the uterus, when an assistant repels the calf and the 

 instrument glides off. This instrument anyway may be readily 

 dispensed with. Many veterinarians are of the opinion that 

 rupture of the uterus, no matter from what cause, is especially 

 frequent in fat cows. This depends probably on fatty infiltration 

 of the tissues, thus lessening their powers of resistance. 



Symptoms. — Non-penetrating wounds frequently cause 

 violent hemorrhages ; at the same time they may be over- 

 looked and become the source of a general infection. 



A phenomenon most conspicuous in penetrating uterine 

 wounds is straining, pretty soon followed by symptoms of 

 peritonitis, due to the septic uterine secretion which entered 

 the abdominal cavity. 



The temperature is accordingly higher, usually 39.5 to 40 

 degrees C; but it frequently happens that there is no rise in 

 temperature and only an increase in the pulse rate (above 100). 

 The latter is an ominous phenomenon. The animal feeds but 

 little, rumination is suspended and the lacteal secretion greatly 

 diminishes. 



In fatal cases the belly is tense, and colicky symptoms 

 appear. Small wounds in the roof of the uterus may heal, and 

 do not give rise to marked symptoms. 



Course and Prognosis. — The course is favorably influenced 

 by a rapid contraction of the uterus after birth. As a result of 

 this, a uterine wound is decreased two-thirds already a few 

 hours after parturition, which fact explains the favorable ter- 

 mination of many cases of Csesarean sections where the uterus 

 was sutured insufficiently. 



The prognosis in non-penetrating wounds is much more 

 favorable than in penetrating ones, although the former may 

 lead to a iatal termination when infected. 



Wounds in the region opposite the rectum are not soiled 

 by the secretion of the uterus, and therefore allow us to give a 



