Hemorrhage from the Gravid Uterus 457 



The animal was dragged from the stanchion to a suitable place 

 for operating, where the posterior parts could be somewhat ele- 

 vated. After much tedious and patient labor, the os uteri was 

 dilated and the fetus removed. The afterbirth was left in the 

 uterus and its cavity was filled with a warm disfecting solution. 

 The prolapsed organ remained in position without any mechan- 

 ical appliance and the animal, relieved of the weight of the fetus, 

 was soon able to regain her feet and made an uneventful recovery. 



In all cases of this malady, we would advise that the chief 

 effort be directed toward overcoming the causes and that close 

 attention be given to the cleanliness of the parts and to keeping 

 them in position by the gentlest possible means. In many cases 

 the repeated replacement and dressing of the parts may be essen- 

 tial and, in some comparatively rare cases, the truss or sutures 

 may be allowable. However, we would urge the avoidance of 

 mechanical appliances, so far as practicable. 



It must be borne in mind, also, that the disease is due very 

 largely to clo.se housing and consequently we may accomplish 

 much good by causing the animal to take in\ igorating exercise. 

 This should not be severe but .should be abundant and regular. 

 Such exercise aids in many ways : it stimulates the action of the 

 bowels and decreases the fullness of the abdomen ; it invigorates 

 the general system and imparts an increased tone to the affected 

 organ ; and it serves to direct the patient's attention from irrita- 

 tion in the part and thus prevents straining. The movements of 

 the animal further tend to bring about a correct position of the 

 uterus and vagina. 



Metrorrhagia. 

 Hemorrh.\ge from the Gravid Uterus. 



Hemorrhage from the gravid uterus is very rarely observed 

 in our domestic animals. Carsten- Harms records the accident 

 in the cow and mare, and admits its occurrence in all domestic 

 mammals. The symptoms consist fundamentally of colic, strain- 

 ing similar to labor pains and an escape of blood from the genital 

 organs. The symptoms are not constant and any one of them 

 may be absent in a given case. Should hemorrhage occur from 

 the cervix, the blood may escape from the vulva, and, if moderate, 

 no symptoms occur except the visible hemorrhage it.self. It 

 may even be that colic or other disease which might later be re- 

 garded as a symptom of metrorrhagia actually causes the hemor- 



