208 The Care of Animals 



over In replacing an everted uterus, the closed fist 

 should be placed beneath the mass, and graduallj^ pushed 

 up into the vagina. This returns the parts to their 

 normal positions. 



Taking about four stitches through the lips of the 

 vulva will hold the uterus in place. The stitches can 

 be left for twenty -four to thirty -six hours, or until all 

 straining is stopped. In some cases a truss, made of 

 rope, can be arranged so that it will cover the vagina; 

 it is held in place by tying to a band around the body. 

 A pessary is also used, — a small smooth stick, such as 

 the end of a fork handle, is cut off about three feet 

 long, and a hole is bored through the cut end. After 

 the uterus is replaced, the smooth end is inserted 

 and the stick is held in place by a small rope passed 

 through the hole in the end and tied to the band 

 around the body. A small rope tied tightly around 

 the body just back of the front legs, and another just 

 forward of the hind legs, usually will keep the cow 

 from straining. 



A cow that has everted the uterus once is likely to 

 do so the next time she calves. In purchasing cows, the 

 vulva should be examined to see whether there are 

 scars of stitches where it has been sewed up. When 

 there is a tendency toward e version, there is likelj^ to 

 be protrusion of the vagina previous to calving. A 

 reddish mass is noticed to protrude when the cow is 

 lying down. To remedy this condition, the vagina 

 should be replaced and the hind quarters of the cow 

 elevated by raising the rear of the stall, say, five or six 

 inches. 



