Torsion of the Uterus 



697 



cause such a disturbance of the semi-pendulous organ as to cause 

 it to revolve more or less completely upon its long axis. 



Any movement of the animal which might cause a sudden im- 

 pact upon the gravid uterus, such as a fall, a severe slip, run- 

 ning, jumping, or the jostling which animals get in transit upon 

 railway trains, may accidentally cause the gravid uterus to 

 revolve upon its long.axis. 



In one instance observed by us, a mare had the habit of climb- 

 ing up the sides of a large stack of straw, and would then lie 

 down in such a way that she was unable to get up except by 

 rolling over backward. In several instances the owner was com- 

 pelled to turn her over in this way and let her roll down the side 

 of the straw stack before she could regain her feet. When foal- 

 ing time came she died because of torsion of the uterus. 



Fig. 116. The Mechanism of Torsion of the Uterus in the Cow, 

 Complete Revolution of the Gravid Uterus at 

 about the 7th month of pregnancy. 

 Lettering same as Fig. 114. 



