230 PUERPERAL FITS. 



sleep, and at length awakes somewhat weak, but to a certain degree re- 

 stored. 



If, then, all her puppies except one or two are taken from her, and her 

 food is, for a day or two, somewhat restricted, and after that given again 

 of its usual quantity and kind, she will live and do well ; but a bleeding 

 at the time of her fit, or suffering all her puppies to return to her, will 

 inevitably destroy her. 



A bitch that was often brought to my house was suckling a litter of 

 puppies. She was foolishly taken up and thrown into the Serpentine in 

 the month of April. The suppression of milk was immediate and com- 

 plete. There was also a determination to the head, and attacks resembling 

 epilepsy. The puppies that were suffered to remain with the mother, 

 were very soon as epileptic as she was, and were destroyed. A seton was 

 inserted on each side of her neck. Ipecacuanha was administered ; and 

 that having sufficiently worked, a small quantity of diluted sulphuric acid 

 was given. A fortnight afterwards she was perfectly well. 



Inversion of the Uterus in a Bull Bitch after Pupping. Extirpation 

 and Cure. By M. Cross, M. V., Milan. In July, 1829, I was desired 

 to attend a small bull bitch six years old, and who had had puppies four 

 times. The uterus was completely inverted, and rested all its weight 

 on the vaginal orifice of the urethra, preventing the discharge of the 

 urine, and thus being the cause of great pain when the animal endeavoured 

 to void it, or the faecal matter. The uterus was become of almost a black 

 colour, swelled, softened, and exhaling an insupportable odour. Judging 

 from this that the preservation of the uterus was impossible, and reckoning 

 much on the good constitution of the patient, I warned the proprietor of 

 the danger of its reduction, even supposing that it w r as practicable, and 

 proposed to him the complete extirpation of the uterus as the only means 

 that remained of saving the bitch. 



Armed with his consent, I passed a ligature round the neck of the 

 uterus, at the bottom of the vagina, and drew it as tight as I possibly 

 could. On the following day I again tightened the ligature, in order to 

 complete the mortification of the part, and the separation of the womb. 

 On the Ihird day I extirpated the womb entirely, close to the haunch. 

 There was very slight loss of blood, but there ran from the walls of the 

 vagina a small quantity of ichorous fluid, with a strong fetid smell. The 

 operation was scarcely completed ere she voided a considerable quantity 

 of urine, and then searched about for something to eat and to drink. 



The portion of the uterus that was removed weighed fourteen ounces. 

 The mucous membrane by which it was lined was in a highly disorganized 

 state. From time to time injections of a slight infusion of aromatic plants 

 were introduced into the vagina, and the animal was nourished with liquid 

 food of easy digestion. 



The first day passed without the animal being in the slightest degree 

 affected ; but, on the following day, in despite of all our care, an ichorous 

 fluid was discharged, which the dog would lick notwithstanding all our 

 efforts to prevent it. The general health of the animal did not seem to be 

 in the slightest degree affected. We continued our aromatic infusion and 

 our regimen. 



On the fourth day after the operation, the cords that had served as a 

 ligature fell off, and all suppuration from the part gradually ceased. 



October 20th. Three months have passed since the operation, and she 

 is perfectly well. 



