168 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



If the tumor hangs by a neck it can usually be most safely removed 

 by the ecraseur, the chain being passed around the pedicel and gradu- 

 ally tightened until that is torn through. 



HERNIA OF THE WOMB. 



The rupture of the musculo-fibrous floor of the belly and the escape 

 of the gravid womb into a sac formed by the peritoneum and skin 

 hanging toward the ground, is described by all veterinary obstetri- 

 cians, yet it is very rarely seen in the mare. The form of the fetus 

 can be felt through the walls of the sac, so that it is easy to recognize 

 the condition. Its cause is usually external violence, though it may 

 start from an umbilical hernia. AA^ien the period of parturition 

 arrives, the first effort should be to return the fetus within the proper 

 abdominal cavity, and this can sometimes be accomplished with the 

 aid of a stout blanket gradually tightened around the belly. This 

 failing, the mare may be placed on her side or back and gravitation 

 brought to the aid of manipulation in securing the return. Even 

 after the hernia has been reduced the relaxed state of the womb and 

 abdominal walls may serve to hinder parturition, in which case the 

 oiled hand must be introduced through the vagina, the fetus brought 

 into position, and traction coincident with the labor pains employed 

 to secure delivery. 



TWISTING OF THE NECK OF THE WOMB. 



This condition is very uncommon in the mare, though occasionally 

 seen in the cow, owing to the greater laxity of the broad ligaments of 

 the womb in that animal. It consists in a revolution of the womb on 

 its own axis, so that its right or left side will be turned upward 

 (quarter revolution), or the lower surface may be turned upward and 

 the upper surface downward (half revolution). The effect is to 

 throw the narrow neck of the womb into a series of spiral folds, turn- 

 ing in the direction in which the womb has revolved, closing the neck 

 and rendering distention and dilatation impossible. 



The period and pains of parturition arrive, but in spite of contin- 

 ued efforts no progress is made, neither water bags nor liquids appear- 

 ing. The oiled hand introduced into the closed neck of the womb 

 will readily detect the spiral direction of the folds on its inner 

 surface. 



The method of relief which I have successfully adopted in the cow 

 may be equally happy in the mare. The dam is placed (with her 

 head uphill) on her right side if the upper folds of the spiral turn 

 toward the right, and on her left side if they turn toward the left, 

 and the oiled hand is introduced through the neck of the womb and a 

 limb or other part of the body of the fetus is seized and pressed 

 against the wall of the womb, while two or three assistants turn the 



