DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 207 



air until it contracts. Its contraction is necessary to prevent bleed- 

 ing from its enormous network of veins. When contracted, the womb 

 is returned into the abdomen and the abdominal wound sewed up. 

 One set of stitches, to be placed at intervals of 2 inches, is passed 

 through the entire thickness of skin and muscles and tied around 

 two quills or little rollers resting on the skin. (PI. XXVII, fig. 7.) 

 These should be of silver, and may be cut at one end and pulled out 

 after the wound has healed. The superficial stitches are put in every 

 half inch and passed through the skin only. They, too, may be of sil- 

 ver, or pins may be inserted through the lips and a fine cord twisted 

 round their ends like a figure 8. (PI. XXVII, fig. 9.) The points 

 of the pins may be snipped off with pliers. The edges may be still 

 further held together by the application of Venice turpentine, melted 

 so as to become firmly adherent, and covered with a layer of sterilized 

 cotton wool. Then the whole should be supported by a bandage fixed 

 around the loins and abdomen. 



