312 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



by the weight of the foetal membranes (Harms). Even a slight 

 inversion gives rise to straining, pushing the intestines against 

 the inverted uterus, thus increasing the inversio uteri. 



As a rule the placentae separate in time and the pending 

 danger is over ; but when the foetal and maternal placenta? are 

 firmly united, inversion is very likely to occur. 



When the afterbirth is expelled and the uterus contracted, 

 so that the cervix is closed, there is no longer any danger of 

 prolapsus. At the same time, I have seen, that two hours 

 after the secundiues were expelled and everything had taken 

 a normal course, inversion and prolapsus occurred. It was 

 due to a sloping position and insufficient uterine contrac- 

 tions, in consequence of which the cervix uteri remained wide 

 open. 



(a) Symptoms of inversio uteri without prolapsus. The fecun- 

 dated horn is inverted and the inverted part pushed into the 

 cervix or vagina. The owner usually furnishes the following 

 history : " The cow calved a few hours ago (or sometimes on 

 one of the preceding days). After a while she began to strain 

 more and more in short intervals. The general health is dis- 

 turbed; the cow does not eat or chew the cud, and is only 

 induced with difficulty to rise." 



Examination. — On vaginal exploration the hand feels a 

 round mass in the vagina or cervix. Close examination reveals 

 it to be the uterine mucosa with the cotyledons. It may 

 happen that the inverted uterus is wedged in the vagina (NYid- 

 hai'lt), or the cotyledons may be visible between the labia*. 



During the examination the cow strains violently, interfer- 

 ing with the passage of the hand. This invagination of the 

 uterus, often but limited, causes continuous straining. The 

 condition can only be diagnosed by an internal examination, 

 thus preventing an otherwise fatal termination. 



(/>) Symptoms of inversio et prolapsus uteri. Its diagnosis is 

 easy. One notices behind the cow a pear-shaped tumor hang- 

 ing out of the vulva, becoming gradually wider, finally having 

 the shape of a bean. In the standing cow it reaches as far as 

 the hocks. 



