456 Veterinary Obstetrics 



ranted in permitting such dela}', but should promptly administer 

 purgatives. The promptest and safest of these are the alkaloids, 

 eserine and arecoline. Given in small doses they act within an 

 hour, and if they fail to do so the dose may then be repeated. To 

 an ordinary cow V2 to i grain of arecoline or eserine may be 

 given. The ewe may take >^ to i of a grain, repeated in in- 

 creased doses until the desired effect is obtained. Saline cathar- 

 tics may be used instead, but they are very slow in action and 

 cause disagreeable disturbances of the appetite. They have 

 greater danger for the life of the fetus. 



The general tone of the system should be favored by the ad- 

 ministration of tonics, especially of nux vomica or strychnine. 



When the affected animal has reached the normal duration of 

 gestation and the prolapse is .severe and inveterate, artificial de- 

 livery should be induced without delay. The os uteri should be 

 gradually dilated and the fetus secured and brought away with 

 light and careful traction. 



We are strongly inclined to hasten parturition, especially if 

 the normal duration of pregnancy has been about completed. 

 The size of the ewe may render this difficult. If the ewe is large 

 and the obstetrist's hand small, the task is greatly lightened and 

 the operation rendered more safe. The operation should be 

 carried out in the same manner as described on page 428. When 

 the smallness of the vulvo- vaginal canal or the large size of the 

 operator's hand precludes artificial delivery through the genital 

 canal, hysterectomy may be considered and applied if deemed 

 judicious. We shall describe this operation among "Obstetric 

 Operations." 



A heifer entered in our ambulatory clinic had suffered seriou.sly 

 from vesico- vaginocele for 24 hours. The animal had reached the 

 end of the ninth month of gestation. When we were called, she 

 was lying prone in the stanchion, unable to rise, even with assist- 

 ance. She was somewhat emaciated, apparently very feeble, 

 and there was possibly some degree of h5'drops amnii. The floor 

 of the vagina, within which w^as the bladder filled with urine, 

 was extruded through the vulva and returnable only with great 

 difficulty. It was impossible, from the beginning, to retain the 

 organ in position after its return and it was evident that the only 

 hope for the patient lay in immediate delivery. 



