Torsion of the Uterus 705 



the peritoneal cavity. Just how far uterine torsion can advance 

 in the living animal is a question not readily determined. Flem- 

 ing, in his Veterinary Obstetrics, Edition 1887, page 299, states 

 that the uterus may make as many as four complete revolutions, 

 but cites no cases which clearly demonstrate the correctness of 

 such a conclusion. In our own experience, the constant tend- 

 ency has been for the organ to rupture transversely whenever 

 the torsion extends to an extreme degree. In Fig. 119, trans- 

 verse rupture of the uterus in the ewe is shown. In this 

 case the fetus and other uterine contents sloughed out 

 through the abdominal floor in the region of the umbilicus. 

 How many times this uterus had revolved before it had torn in 

 two cannot be determined, but apparently not much, if any, 

 beyond one complete revolution. We question Very much if, 

 under ordinary conditions, the pregnant uterus, when near the 

 close of gestation, will turn more than once or once and a half 

 around without .serious danger of a transverse rupture. 



In one instance, in the cow, which came under our observa- 

 tion, it would seem that the torsion did not exceed one complete 

 turn because it was verj- promptly reduced by rolling the cow 

 once over. Yet, when the fetus had been removed, a large trans- 

 verse rupture was found, which later ended in the death of the 

 animal. We do not believe that we caused this rupture in deliv- 

 ering the calf, as this was accomplished very gently and easily. 



Some authors state that occasionally the broad ligaments of the 

 uterus also become ruptured, and make their statement in such a 

 way as to carry the impression that the ligaments rupture inde- 

 pendently of the transverse rupture of the organ itself. How 

 true this may be, is not quite clear to us. When the organ rup- 

 tures transversely, as in Fig. 119, it is v^xy evident that the broad 

 ligaments must give way also, as they are firmly incarcerated in 

 the part which ruptures, and the immense weight of the gravid 

 organ, after it has become detached from the vagina, is such that 

 the ligaments must necessarily be torn. Yet, we do not under- 

 stand, from a study of Figs. 114 and 115, how any serious 

 rupture of these ligaments could take place without the organ 

 itself having first given way. 



Prognosis. The prognosis of torsion of the uterus must neces- 

 sarily be grave. The probability of recovery must be based 

 45 



