698 Veteriiiary Obstetrics 



The belief that the rolling of the animal, or some similar move- 

 ment, such as a slip, which causes the body to very quickly re- 

 volve to a slight degree, is the cause of torsion, is borne out by 

 the results of our most common form of handling of this diffi- 

 culty, the rolling of the animal. 



Some believe that violent movements of the fetus exert an 

 influence in the production of torsion, but this cannot be deter- 

 mined. The fetus may move violently because of partial as- 

 phyxia after the torsion has occurred, and this fact may be 

 mistaken for the cause of the torsion. 



Symptoms. The symptoms of torsion of the uterus are not 

 diagnostic without the aid of an examination of the organ itself. 

 Soon after the torsion occurs, there is more or less pain caused 

 by the displacement of the organ, which may be expressed in a 

 variety of ways, according to the degree of torsion and the 

 period of gestation at which it occurs. In the simpler cases the 

 pain is expressed by kicking at the belly, lying down and 

 quickly getting up again, looking at the side, switching the tail, 

 with other symptoms which might be regarded as those of colic. 

 In addition to these colicky symptoms, there may be present 

 more or less marked expulsive efforts, which may .somewhat 

 closely resemble normal labor pains, or may partake rather of 

 the character of straining to defecate. 



The general condition of the animal is variable. There may 

 be a well marked loss of appetite, accompanied by more or less 

 constipation of the bowels. When the torsion becomes more 

 complete, and the blood supply to the uterus is largely or wholly 

 interrupted, the fetus usually undergoes death and decomposi- 

 tion, followed by great weakness of the animal. There are then 

 such symptoms as would be caused by the presence of an emphy- 

 sematous fetus and an inflamed or gangrenous uterus, with the 

 resulting extensive peritonitis combined with .septicaemia. When 

 the septicaemia and peritonitis do not result fatally, the contents 

 of the uterus, undergoing putrid decomposition, act as an abscess, 

 which eventually ruptures through the abdominal walls or into 

 the digestive tract, and the fetal remains escape in this way. In 

 other ca.ses the fetus is .said to undergo mummification, followed 

 by recovery of the patient. This must be extremely rare. We 

 have observed no such case, or authentic record of such. 



Frequently the owner or caretaker fails to observe any signs 



