450 Veterinary Obstetrics 



during the later stages of gestation, sometimes only a few days 

 prior to parturition, while at other times it may precede the 

 advent of labor two to four weeks. 



The actual cause is not well known. We have ob.served it 

 more frequently in the ewe than in the cow. In the ewe it 

 can not well depend upon lying upon a floor sloping backward. 

 Sheep are not confined in stanchions and ordinarily lie upon a 

 level floor, so that there is no .sloping backward of the body. So 

 far as we have observed, the affection is seen almost entrrely in 

 closel}' housed pregnant animals. We have especially noted the 

 affection in ewes which were being bred for winter, or "hot 

 house " lambs. In these cases the ewes are bred about August 

 or September, so that they may give birth to lambs during mid- 

 winter, which are fitted for the early market when prices are 

 high. The ewes are closely confined in very warm stables and 

 highly fed. Under the.se conditions we have found as high as 5 

 to 10% of a herd of ewes affected with this malady. So far as 

 we have observed, the conditions under which the di.sease arises 

 in the cow are similar. We do not recall having .seen a case of 

 prolapse of the vagina in a pregnant animal, except it was clo.sely 

 housed or had met with some accident. 



The symptoms of the malady consist essentially of a prolapse 

 of the vagina, which projects more or less beyond the vulvar 

 opening as a bright, red tumor. After it has been prolapsed for 

 a period of time it becomes swollen and the mucosa much thick- 

 ened and ver^'- greatly irritated. The prolapsed part may become 

 covered over with dried blood clots, bedding and dirt of various 

 kinds, accompanied by more or less suppuration. During the 

 earlier stages and in very mild cases, the prolap.se may be visible 

 only when the animal is lying down, and disappear spontaneously 

 when she gets up. If the tumor remains when the animal is 

 standing, and is pushed back by the hand, the vulvar opening is 

 abnormally large, the result of the prolonged stretching of the 

 sphincter muscles by the presence of the tumor. 



In many ca.ses the prolap.se does not cau.se great inconvenience 

 to the animal. In others there is considerable irritation, with 

 straining, which increases the size of the tumor and gradually 

 results in sj'stemic disturbances which may cause the animal to 

 lo.se flesh and vigor and finally to succumb. 



Judging from our clinical ob.servations, the essential causes of 



