TORSION OF THE UTERUS. 



327 



encountei-s the spiral plicaj met with in the animal wliilo alive ; hut 

 passes through the canal, and even into the uterus, without hindrance. 

 The numher of turns necessary to accomplish this will indicate the 

 amount of torsion which had taken place. Most frequently only half a 

 turn is necessary, showing that the uterus had made half a revolution 

 on its axis — the upper surface having become the lower. Sometimes 

 the quarter of a turn will sutlice to adjust it ; while in other instances 

 a complete turn, or even two, three, or four turns in the opposite dix-ec- 

 tion to the torsion, may be needed before the obstruction disappears ; 

 though it is very doubtful if more than two complete twists or turns are 

 ever really made. 



Fig. 93. 



Left Uterine Tor.sion in ■<itit. 



1, Body of the Uterus ; 2, Twisted crnlx iiteri ; .'!, Vagin.a ; I, L< ft K.'\lloi)ian 



Ligament. 



At times the uterus and vagina exhibit signs of inflammation, par- 

 ticularly towards the strangulation, and the indications of acute metro- 

 peritonitis are frequently most marked. In exceptional instances we 

 may have gangrene of the uterus, probably due to obstruction of the 

 bloodvessels implicated in the torsion. 



As a complication, a more or less extensive rupture, complete or 

 incomplete, of the uterus may exist — possibly having been ])roduced by 

 the severe uterine contractions during the life of the animal. This 

 rupture, implicating the walls of the organ, is most frequently met with 

 in its body, in the vicinity of the twisted portion, or at the junction of 

 the gravid cornu with the uterus. The foetus has been at times found 

 partly fixed in the fissure. 



