Inversion of the Uterus 827 



as high as 25 to 30% of cases in the cow. The statistics regard- 

 ing fatalities in this accident are not reliable because, like in too 

 many other instances, there is a tendency for veterinarians to 

 record their successful experiences and remain silent regarding 

 those where the termination has proven fatal. In the mare the 

 accident is highly fatal. Saint-Cyr, from statistics given, re- 

 cords a mortality of 74%, and Zundel of 50 ^/r. These figures 

 are probably misleading, due to the fact that the successful and 

 not the fatal cases have been recorded. 



In our own experience, prolapse of the uterus in the mare has 

 been very rare. One or two instances occurred where the pro- 

 lapse appeared immediately upon the expulsion of the fetus, when 

 the mare was in a dying condition, and where death followed 

 within a few minutes. In only one instance, in the mare, did pro- 

 lapse of the uterus occur in such a way as to call for definite 

 treatment, and this animal survived. She was unable to stand 

 after the reduction of the prolapse, and required slings. Before 

 she had become .strong enough to warrant our removing these, 

 tetanus .set in, and the slings were retained until she recovered 

 from that disea.se. 



Repeatedly after dystokia we have recognized a beginning in- 

 version of the gravid cornu in the mare. Having given it imme- 

 diate attention, we have been able to promptly correct the posi- 

 tion of the organ, and the animal remained well. However we 

 cannot count these as cases of prolapse, but simply as begin- 

 ning cases, in which a certain degree of inversion had occurred. 



In the cow our experience on the whole has been unfavorable, 

 because we have encountered a number of cases of this accident 

 as a complication of parturient paresis, in which it has proven 

 universally fatal. In other instances the results have been more 

 satisfactory, with recovery in more than 80 ^f of cases. In the 

 smaller animals, inv^ersion of the uterus is highly unfavorable, in 

 so far as replacement is concerned, but they very largely recover 

 after amputation of the organ. 



The relation of prolapse of the uterus to the breeding of the 

 animal has not been very carefully studied. As a general rule, 

 if the organ is promptly returned it seems to have little or no in- 

 fluence upon the fecundity of the patient so far as has been ob- 

 served. 



