Cervical Prolapse 643 



cause is an endometro-cervicitis. Both the endometrium 

 and the endocervical mucosa become inflamed and irritated 

 in such a manner that abdominal pressure is brought to bear 

 upon the pelvic contents. When the animal lies down there 

 is added a passive intra-abdominal compression which 

 pushes uterus, cervix and vagina backward. The muscular 

 walls of the cervix retain their tone or are rigid from 

 disease; the uterine walls are atonic. In the pregnant 

 animal the fetus and its membranes are not expelled 

 because the cervix does not relax and the uterine walls 

 do not contract, to compel the dilation of the canal. 

 Consequently the cervix is displaced backward. In 

 other instances, in pregnant animals, the expulsion of the 

 fetus is inhibited by induration of the cervical walls with 

 adhesions which prevent that degree of dilation essential to 

 the expulsion of the uterine contents. During the post- 

 parturient period, without nymphomania, cervical prolapse 

 is ordinarily dependent upon a quite severe endometritis 

 associated with a lingering placental necrosis. In the second 

 group of cases, the displacement is fundamentally due to 

 uterine atony dependent upon that type of ovarian disease 

 regularly causing nymphomania. In these cases the cervix 

 is relaxed and its canal will permit of the ready passage of 

 one, two or more fingers. The progress of cervical prolapse 

 is very slow. In the pregnant animal it tends to become 

 worse as time for parturition approaches. Each time that 

 the cervix pushes out beyond the vulva while the patient is 

 recumbent, the protruding mass becomes soiled with litter, 

 increasing the irritation and the volume of the tumor, which 

 in turn cause greater straining and protrusion. Eventually, 

 if the animal calves, the unloading of the uterus usually 

 causes the protrusion to disappear. When endometritis 

 causes cervical prolapse in a non-pregnant cow, the pro- 

 lapse tends constantly to increase. The prolapse of the cer- 

 vix, with the displacement of the uterus, imprisons the irri- 

 tant secretions within the uterus. The cervical prolapse as- 

 sociated with nymphomania usually disappears when the 

 cystic condition of the ovaries is brought under control. 



