98 Diseases of the Ge?iiial Orga?is 



toir and clinically by palpation in order to be able to read 

 every change in the gland with his finger-tips as unerringly 

 as a blind man reads braille. 



The rectal palpation of the uterus, oviducts and ovaries of 

 cows and of some heifers, is greatly facilitated by the appli- 

 cation of the forceps to the vaginal end of the cervix and the 

 exertion of moderate traction thereon. The traction draws 

 the uterus, oviducts and ovaries backward and upward, 

 tenses the uterine horns and renders their outline more dis- 

 tinct, and enables the operator to study all parts of the geni- 

 tal tract at a far greater advantage. The plan avoids many 

 errors in diagnosis. Some veterinarians fear that the appli- 

 cation of the forceps to the cervix of a pregnant cow and the 

 exertion of traction is dangerous, but I have failed to observe 

 any untoward results. Without the aid of forceps, I have 

 seen colleagues mistake gross pyometra for pregnancy and 

 make other regrettable blunders. As a rule of practice, 

 therefore, rectal palpation of the genital organs should regu- 

 larly be aided by traction upon the cervix with forceps. Cer- 

 tain exceptions arise. It has already been noted that the 

 genital organs of a heifer with a small vulva may be ad- 

 vantageously palpated per rectum without the application 

 of the forceps. In pregnancy of 30 to 90 days, one may gen- 

 erally make a clear diagnosis without applying forceps. 

 But in an old cow with a pendulous belly, the uterus in early 

 pregnancy may be dropped too far forward and be entirely 

 too flaccid to admit of safe recognition. To add to the diffi- 

 culty, the embryo in such cows may be located in the apex of 

 a horn, quite out of reliable reach. Then the operator paws 

 about unconsciously in an effort to drag the uterus back per 

 rectum which is infinitely more dangerous and far less effi- 

 cient than traction with forceps. 



The vaginal and rectal palpation, in addition to revealing 

 an endless category of pathologic lesions, serves almost al- 

 ways to determine the presence or absence of pregnancy. If 

 pregnancy is diagnosed, the examination is ordinarily com- 

 plete. If the animal is non-pregnant, instrumental search 

 of the cervical canal and uterine cavity is necessary for the 



