642 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



D. Retention Cysts of the Cervix. 

 Cysts occur somewhat rarely in the vaginal end of the 

 cervix about the os uteri externum. I have observed them 

 at the sides of the opening of the cervical canal. They vary 

 in size from one-half to one inch in diameter. They ordi- 

 narily contain mucus, which sometimes becomes infected 

 and purulent. They are apparently retention cysts. It has 

 been my habit to incise these, when encountered, and cau- 

 terize their interior with full strength Lugol's solution or 

 with silver nitrate. 



E. Cervical Prolapse. 



Prolapse of the cervix consists of a displacement of the 

 cervix toward or through the vulva. It inevitably involves 

 a simultaneous displacement of the base of the uterus and 

 of the cervical end of the vagina toward the vulva. It is 

 possible in the non-pregnant heifer. It is observed during 

 pregnancy and at varying periods after its termination. 



The symptoms of cervical prolapse are too evident to call 

 for detailed description. As a rule the prolapse becomes 

 evident only while the cow is recumbent. It then appears 

 as a conical tumor, with its base directed forward and its 

 obtuse apex toward or beyond the vulva. In or near the 

 center of the obtuse apex is a depression, the os uteri ex- 

 ternum. The vulvar end of the cervix becomes increasingly 

 swollen and irritated according to the degree and duration 

 of protrusion. When protruding beyond the vulva suffi- 

 ciently to come into contact with the bedding and with feces 

 or other contaminating substances, the swelling and irrita- 

 tion increase. The irritation may reach such a degree as to 

 cause an excessive secretion of mucus, or suppuration and 

 necrosis of the mucosa may occur. 



In the pregnant animal the uterine seal is usually present 

 but imperfect and showing varying degrees of disease. The 

 two chief causes of prolapse of the cervix arc disease of the 

 uterine end of the cervical and of the uterine mucosa and a 

 general atony of the genital system. In the first group of 

 cases, so far as I have yet been able to observe, the primary 



