TOIiSWX OF THE L'TEIIUS. -Vn 



can be perceived. It may be noted, also, that occasionally the rectum 

 itself is displaced ami drawn towards the entangled uterus. 



If tlie animal is not relieved, the symptoms above indicated persist 

 with variable intensity, according to circumstances. The straining and 

 attempts at spontaneous delivery continue either feebly, and with long 

 intervals between, or they are violent and almost incessant. The animal 

 soon ceases to eat and ruminate ; it becomes dull and dispirited ; fever 

 sets in, and the pulse and respiration are hurried ; rigors and grinding 

 of the teeth are remarked from time to time ; the lacteal secretion which 

 had commenced is now suspended ; the mammai become soft and 

 small ; the eyes sink in their orbit ; and extreme prostration ensues. 

 The creature, unable to get up, constantly lies ; the pulse becomes im- 

 perceptible, while the heart's beats are loud and tumultuous ; and death 

 generally occurs from the tliird to the tenth day after the eai-liest symp 

 toms were exhibited. 



Many authorities are of opinion that death is the only result that can 

 he looked for when assistance is not rendered, and the animal is accord- 

 ingly left to its fate ; and, contrary to what Kainard has stated, they do 

 not admit that the fa>tus may become mummified in the uterus and the 

 Cow live and thrive. But we have the evidence of the old French 

 authority, Boutrelle, as \vell as that of Ercolani, Lessona, Rocco, (iurlt, 

 Liautard, Pouchy (already quoted), and others, that this happy termina- 

 tion is quite possible ; and indisputable cases are recorded of Cows with 

 unreduced uterine torsions, which have perfectly recovered and fattened, 

 and in the uterus of which, after slaughter, the desiccated or mummified 

 fcEtus has been found. 



But yet these must be looked upon as exceptional cases ; and while 

 they only prove that spontaneous recovery is possible, it must be 

 admitted that, in the great majority of instances, death is not long in 

 appearing in torsion of the uterus, if the organ is not restored to its 

 normal position. 



Diagnosis. 

 The diagnosis of this accident, and the direction and extent of the 

 torsion, are of great importance from an obstetrical point of view. We 

 will therefore consider (1) The presence of torsion ; (2) The direction of 

 the torsion ; and (3) The degree of torsion. 



1. The Presence of Torsion. — To recognise the existence of torsion of 

 the uterus is not attended with much difficulty ; and in describing the 

 symptoms we have, to a certain extent, shown the manner in which the 

 accident manifests itself to tiie obstetrist. 



It has been stated that, when the hand is introduced into the vagina 

 of an animal the subject of this displacement, it is soon discovered that 

 there is something in the way, and this appears to be a narrowing of 

 the passage. Passing on, the constriction seems to be increasing, until 

 at the end of the canal there is only a very small opening, into which 

 the lingers may pass with difliculty ; when inserted there, it is found 

 that they cannot be pushed straight forward, but have a tendency to 

 deviate to the right or left, and finally to assume a spiral course. 



We have also stated that this peculiarity in the constriction is 

 markedly characteristic and distinctive of uterine torsion, and this 

 statement holds good in the large majority of cases; so that it is scarcely 

 possible to make a mistake. 



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