False Coptilation 213 



In the mare the accident is preventable by ordinary pre- 

 cautions on the part of the stallion groom. Service should 

 not be attempted in case of a mare not certainly in proper 

 estrum. It is the duty of the groom to see that the penis of 

 the stallion is properly entering the vulva of the mare. If 

 the mare is kicking or otherwise violently resisting the stal- 

 lion, he should be promptly withdrawn, since copulation un- 

 der such circumstances is unwarrantedly dangerous for 

 both animals. Such violent resistance of the mare is some- 

 times cited by the groom as an excuse for his failure to 

 know that the penis of the stallion was being properly en- 

 tered in the vulva, but it is not valid. The mare or cow 

 with retracted anus should be placed with her hind feet on a 

 lower level than her anterior members, leaving the ground 

 upon which the male is to stand at a higher level and thus 

 bringing the vulvar opening more nearly perpendicular. In 

 the cow and sow, the accident is not usually preventable. 



The prognosis of penial injuries to the rectum must be 

 based largely upon their position and extent. When the 

 lacerations perforate the peritoneum, allowing feces to es- 

 cape into the peritoneal cavity, the injury is essentially 

 fatal : veterinarians have not yet succeeded in successfully 

 handling such lesions. When the rupture of the rectal wall 

 occurs behind the peritoneum or, occurring more anteriorly, 

 does not perforate it, the prognosis is good, if timely surgi- 

 cal aid is given, though, after a long time, serious or fatal 

 results may follow the impaction of feces in the sac formed 

 in the pelvic connective tissue. The pressure of the feces es- 

 caping from the rectum tends constantly to push the loose 

 connective tissue aside and, eventually, to form a large sac, 

 which is constantly filled with fecal masses. 



The handling in such cases consists of gently removing 

 the feces from the sacculated wound cavity in the pelvic con- 

 nective tissue and cautiously flushing it out at least twice 

 daily with a mild antiseptic solution. At the same time, the 

 rectum should be manually emptied as far as the attendant 

 can reach and the feces thus prevented from dropping into 

 the sac. The patient should be kept at rest on a very scant, 



