838 Veterinary Obstetrics 



Among the remedies which have a powerful influence in con- 

 trolUug the straining, chloral hydrate occupies an important 

 place. It may be administered in a variety of ways ; in draught, 

 in enema, or intra- peritoneally. Some obstetrists have advised the 

 use of ether as a general anaesthetic, while others have advised 

 the use of opium as a narcotic. Morphine and opium are not 

 reliable agents, however, in ruminants and solipeds, and may 

 excite rather than soothe. Others advise large doses of alcohol 

 to the point of inducing narcosis, and this we would believe use- 

 ful, even though given only as a stimulant, thus arousing the 

 contractile powers of the organ. 



In the smaller animals, where the uterus is so small that the 

 hand cannot be introduced, the reposition of the prolap.sed organ 

 is rendered difficult and somewhat dangerous, and very frequently 

 fails. To a certain degree, the finger may be used to replace the 

 organ in small animals, but cannot follow it to assure complete 

 replacement. In order to bring this about, it may be necessary 

 to use a sound, which needs be of large size and well rounded at 

 the end in order to guard against puncture of the organ. For 

 this purpose a large instrument, like a horse catheter, may be 

 used to push the organ into its position ; or, as Fleming suggests, 

 one might use a candle, properh' rounded at one end, for pushing 

 the organ back into its place. If the small animal is suspended 

 by its hind legs, and warm water poured into the vagina through 

 a funnel, the weight of the water, with the position of the patient, 

 tends to complete the replacement of the organ. 



In most cases when the prolap.sed uterus has been promptly 

 reduced and properly replaced, the animal becomes calm and 

 ceases to strain, and a recurrence of the prolapse is not probable. 

 This especially holds true in all cases where the animal can stand. 

 Many obstetrists deem it essential, nevertheless, that some 

 mechanical appliance should be used to prevent a recurrence of 

 the eversion. However advisable this may be, it should not tend 

 in any way to decrease the attention of the obstetrist to the 

 measures which we have already suggested for bringing about a 

 thorough replacement of the organ in every detail, its proper 

 cleansing and soothing by irrigation, and the stimulation of the 

 uterus to normal involution. When these are done, and thor- 

 oughly done, it is only in a minorit}' of cases that any mechanical 

 appliances are essential for the retention of the organ. Admit- 



