8i6 Veterifiary Obstetrics 



the uterine wall is forced against them, it is liable to become seri- 

 ously injured or even punctured. In some instances there occurs, 

 first, severe maiming or contusion of the organ, of such a char- 

 acter that its vitality is destroyed over a small area, the devi- 

 talized area becomes infected, and eventually a small slough takes 

 place, which establishes a communication between the uterine 

 and peritoneal cavities. 



In other cases, when forced extraction is attempted with a fetus 

 in an improper position, such as a deviation of the head, the 

 uterine wall may be caught by some projecting portion of the 

 fetus, and dragged along in such a way that it doubles upon itself 

 and thus tends to bring about its rupture. 



Of all the ruptures of the uterus, the most embarrassing and 

 unfortunate are those which are brought about by improper 

 manipulation or accident upon the part of the obstetrist himself 

 or through the meddling of laymen or empirics. In discussing 

 the general subject of obstetric work upon page 623, we have 

 already suggested that it is to the professional and legal interests 

 of the veterinary obstetrist to examine very carefully each case 

 of dystokia to which he is called, and determine whether or not 

 the animal has been subjected to injurious meddling before his 

 arrival, and discover, if possible, any important injuries which 

 may have taken place, before he attempts to handle the case. 



Again, in discussing the method or plan for overcoming dys- 

 tokia or accomplishing obstetric work, we have urged on page 

 630 that the veterinarian should always use care and judgment 

 and that he should especially husband his strength to conserve 

 his efficiency. In one instance, in our own practice, we had 

 labored long and ineffectively to correct a lateral deviation of the 

 head, in a case of wry-neck, when we should at once have re- 

 sorted to embryotomy. Finally, after becoming exhausted, we 

 made an attempt to secure the head by means of a long, blunt 

 hook, and in our exhausted condition failed to properly control 

 the direction of the instrument, caught it in the uterine wall and 

 tore a large opening, which at once demanded the destruction of 

 the patient. 



Sometimes, in cases of prolapse of the uterus, the animal gets 

 the prolapsed organ caught upon obstacles of various kinds and, 

 dragging upon it, brings about a more or less serious rupture. 

 It is not very rare for the prolapsed uterus to be torn and lace- 



