186 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



remains inverted within another portion. Should any such partial 

 inversion be left it will give rise to straining, under the force of which 

 it will gradually increase until the whole mass will be protruded as 

 before. The next step is to apply a truss as an effectual me- 

 chanical barrier to further escape of the womb through the vulva. 

 The simplest is made with two inch ropes, each about 18 feet long. 

 These are each doubled and interwoven at the bend, as seen in Plate 

 IX, figure 4. The ring formed by the interlacing of the two ropes is 

 adjusted around the vulva, the two ends of the one rope are carried 

 up on the right and left of the tail and along the spine, being wound 

 round each other in their course, and are finally tied to the upper 

 part of the collar encircling the neck. The remaining two ends, 

 belonging to the other rope, are carried downward and forward 

 between the thighs and thence forward and upward on the sides of 

 the belly and chest to be attached to the right and left sides of the col- 

 lar. These ropes are drawn tightly enough to keep closely applied to 

 the opening without chafing, and will fit still more securely when the 

 mare raises her back to strain. It is desirable to tie the mare short so 

 that she may be unable to lie down for a day or two, and she should 

 be kept in a stall with the hind parts higher than the fore. Violent 

 straining may be checked by full doses of opium (one-half dram), 

 and any costiveness or diarrhea should be obviated by a suitable laxa- 

 tive or binding diet. 



In some mares the contractions are too violent to allow of the return 

 of the womb, and full doses of opium one-half dram, laudanum 2 

 ounces, or chloral hydrate 1 ounce, may be demanded, or the mare 

 must be rendered insensible by ether or chloroform. 



RUPTURE, OR LACERATION, OF THE WOMB. 



This may occur from the feet of the foal during parturition, or 

 from ill-directed efforts to assist, but it is especially liable to take 

 place in the everted, congested, and friable organ. The resultant 

 dangers are bleeding from the wound, escape of the bowels through 

 the opening and their fatal injury by the mare's feet or otherwise, and 

 peritonitis from the extension of inflammation from the wound and 

 from the poisonous action of the septic liquids of the womb escaping 

 into the abdominal cavity. The first object is to close the wound, 

 but unless in eversion of the womb this is practically impossible. In 

 the last-named condition the wound must be carefully and accurately 

 sewed up before the womb is returned. After its return, the womb 

 must be injected daily with an antiseptic solution (borax, one-half 

 ounce, or carbolic acid, 3 drams to a quart of tepid water). If in- 

 flammation threatens, the abdomen may be bathed continuously with 

 hot water by means of a heavy woolen rag, and large doses of opium 

 (one-half dram) may be given twice or thrice daily. 



