THE URINARY SYSTEM 429 



walls of the vagina, generally in the lower part, between the floor of 

 the passage and the roof of the bladder, but they are also found in 

 the sides or in the roof. They may result from bruises caused 

 during parturition, especially in breech presentations, or from 

 injuries done by mischievous boys pushing sticks up the passage. 

 The most prominent symptom is continual straining. An examina- 

 tion must be made and the abscess opened, as described under 

 Abscess in the Bladder (par. 724) ; but this should only be done by 

 the expert practitioner. 



755. Protrusion of the Vagina. — The vagina is frequently 

 found protruding or everted to the extent of 8 or 10 inches. 

 This is most often seen in cattle that have been on board ship, and 

 it is sometimes very troublesome in summer weather when they are 

 out at grass, for if it happens once, it has a tendency to recur about 

 every three weeks. If the vagina remains out too long it becomes 

 swollen and congested, and before it can be returned it has to be pricked 

 in several places with a lancet, and the congested fluid pressed out ; it 

 should then be anointed with carbolic oil, returned, and kept in its 

 place by stitches of leather or tape, put through the skin close to the 

 rump-bone with a packing-needle, and carried across to the other side ; 

 but on no account must the stitches be put through the lips of the 

 vulva. Aged cows that have had a number of calves are very 

 subject to this protrusion, it being usually noticed five or six weeks 

 before calving, but only while the animal is lying down, as it recedes 

 on rising. The best preventive of this is to heighten the floor behind 

 the animals with firm green turf, which, by raising the hind-quarters, 

 mechanically prevents the protrusion. As a rule it is rarely seen 

 after calving. 



