Rectal Palpation 91 



result, but this is extremely rare. Injuries to the rectal 

 mucosa from the palpation are far more common. Veteri- 

 narians with very large hands and arms should not under- 

 take rectal palpation of the genitalia per rectum in small 

 heifers. As a rule, however, bleeding from the rectal mu- 

 cosa is not due to a big hand, but to roughness, inexperience, 

 or untrimmed finger nails. The nails are to be trimmed to 

 the quick and carefully filed until they are as smooth as 

 possible, softened in warm water, and then all possible care 

 and gentleness must be used. Under no conditions is the 

 rectum to be dragged upon violently. While it is ballooned 

 or the cow is straining, no reliable palpation can be accom- 

 plished, but severe or fatal injury is always impending. 



Even if the injury is not serious, hemorrhage is a dis- 

 credit to the examiner. When he removes his hand, covered 

 with blood, it looks bad to the owner, and to one who knows 

 the subject it shows that the examiner has failed to attain 

 his object, which is a reliable palpation, but has instead in- 

 jured the rectum. The prudent veterinarian will, therefore, 

 have care to reduce to a minimum the frequency and amount 

 of hemorrhage from the rectal mucosa, and will always feel 

 that he has erred whenever his hand, when withdrawn, is 

 stained with blood. After other precautions to prevent 

 straining have failed, it may sometimes be controlled by 

 pinching the skin of the back, pressing over the spine with a 

 rough stick, pinching the muzzle with the fingers and thumb 

 in the nostrils, or applying a leading-ring to the nose. 



When the foregoing preliminary precautions against in- 

 jury to the intestines have been made and other preparations 

 for rectal palpation satisfactorily attained, the examiner is 

 ready to proceed with the palpation of the genital organs 

 per rectum. If forceps have been applied and slight trac- 

 tion is exerted, the cervix of the non-pregnant, adult cow 

 may usually be drawn back almost or quite to the vulva. 



There are occasional exceptions. In Shorthorn cows, the 

 vagina is quite long and narrow and the uterus is held far 

 forward by its ligaments so that in many individuals it is 

 very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to draw the cervix 



