640 Diseases 0/ the Genital Organs 



B. Retention of Menstrual Debris from Cervicitis 1 

 Uterine distension from cervical disease, due to the uter- 

 ine end of the cervical mucosa projecting conically into the 

 uterine cavity and acting as a collapsing valve, imprisoning 

 the uterine secretions, to which reference has been made 

 above, is extremely rare. I have observed but two cases, 

 both clinical. The uterus was firmly distended with fluid as 

 in pregnancy, but the two horns were symmetrical. A cor- 

 pus luteum was usually present but shifted from one ovary 

 to the other (alternation of ovulation at estrum). The uter- 

 ine arteries were not enlarged. The cervix was not sealed. 

 The introduction of the uterine catheter, which required 

 some patience, caused the evacuation of a thin, clear, odor- 

 less mucus. 



I have not succeeded in restoring such animals to fertility. 

 Generally it is best to slaughter. In one instance I cathe- 

 terized the uterus several times and evacuated the fluid. In 

 another case, in swabbing the cervix, I pushed the swab into 

 the uterine cavity, beyond the conical projection of the 

 mucosa. When I attempted to withdraw the swab, the 

 valve-like projection closed upon it and pulled the swab 

 from the forceps. The recovery and withdrawal of the swab 

 gave considerable difficulty. I doubt the efficacy of handling. 

 With a very valuable animal probably the most hopeful plan 

 would be a complete trachelectomy, as described in the pre- 

 ceding paragraph. 



'There is a legendary atresia of the cervical canal in cattle, which 

 has been maintained generation after generation. It has its basis in 

 the common ignorance of the anatomy of the bovine cervix. A cow 

 is sterile, a man attempts to pass his finger through the cervical 

 canal and naturally fails, and a diagnosis of cervical atresia or 

 "closure of the womb" is made, 'flic principle is the same as when, 

 a generation ago, if a cow was ill, a hole was bored in her horn, a 

 cavity was found and "hollow horn" diagnosed. Atresia of the 

 cervix still appeai-s in some textbooks as a disease. Rarely does 

 cervicitis occlude the cervical canal. More frequently embryologic 

 arrest in development occurs and the cervical canal is not formed. 

 In either case the menstrual debris is imprisoned and the uterus be- 

 comes distended. When the veterinarian attempts to pass tlie dilator, 

 catheter or other instrument through the cervical canal and fails, if 

 atresia exists, distension of the uterus inevitably eo-exists. If the 

 distension of the uterus is not present, a diagnosis of cervical atresia 

 is unjustifiable and false. Atresia of tlie cervical canal without uter- 

 ine distension can not. exist. 



