222 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



LACERATIONS AND RUPTURES OF THE VAGINA. 



lUipture of the floor of the vagina has been already referred to as 

 allowing the jDrotiaision of the bladder. Laceration of the roof of 

 this passage is also met with as the result of deviations of the hind 

 limbs and feet upward when the calf lies on its back. In some such 

 cases the opening passes clear into the rectum, or the foot may even 

 pass out through the anus, so that that opening and the vulva are 

 laid open into one. . • 



Simple superficial lacerations of the vaginal walls are not usually 

 serious, and heal readily unless septic inflammation sets in, in which 

 case the cow is likely to perish. They may be treated with soothing 

 and antiseptic injections^ such as carbolic acid, 1 dram; water, 1 

 quart. 



The more serious injuries depend on the complications. Eupture 

 of the anterior part of the canal, close to the mouth of the womb, may 

 lead to the introduction of infecting germs into the cavity of the abdo- 

 men, or protrusion of the bowel through the rent and externally, 

 either of which is likely to prove fatal. If both these conditions are 

 escaped the wound may heal spontaneously. Rupture into the blad- 

 der may lead to nothing worse than a constant dribbling of the urine 

 from the vulva. The cow should be fattened if she survives. Rup- 

 ture into the rectum will entail a constant escape of feces through 

 the vulva, and, of course, the same condition exists when the anus 

 as well has been torn open. I have successfully sewed up an opening 

 of this kind in the mare, but in the cow it is probably better to pre- 

 pare for the butcher. 



CLOTS OF BLOOD IN THE WALLS OF THE VAGINA. 



During calving the vagina may be bruised so as to cause escape of 

 blood beneath the mucous membrane and its coagulation into large 

 bulging clots. The vulva may appear swollen, and on separating its 

 lips the mucous membrane of the vagina is seen to be raised into 

 irregular rounded swellings of a dark-blue or black color, and which 

 pit on pressure of the finger. If the accumulation of blood is not 

 extensive it may be reabsorbed, but if abundant it may lead to irri- 

 tation and dangerous inflammation^ and should be incised with a 

 lancet and the clots cleared out. The wounds may then be sponged 

 twice a day with a lotion made with 1 dram sulphate of zinc, 1 dram 

 carbolic acid, and 1 quart water. 



RETAINED AFTERBIRTH. 



The cow, of all our domestic animals, is especially subject to this 

 accident. This may be partly accounted for by the fiiTn connections 

 established through the fifty to one hundred cotyledons (PI. XIII, 



