TORSION OF THE UTKRi'S. 329 



taxis; {^) Denoc s procedure ; (5) Darrcau's procedure; {G) liOtatioii uf 

 the Coiv's body: and (7) Gastro-hysterotomy, or Ccesarian section. 



1. Abdominal Taxis. — The idea of opening the abdomen and thrust- 

 in^' the hands and arms into its cavity, in order to search for the twisted 

 uterus, then to untwist it directly by turning it on its axis in a contrary 

 direction to the torsion, in order to dehver the animal by the natural 

 passages, is at tirst sight an eminently rational and practical procedure, 

 and one which, occurring independently to several minds, has been 

 resorted to by a number of veterinary obstetrists. But, however simple 

 and feasible it may appear, yet it is very far from being an easy or 

 always successful method, and this for several reasons. Among these 

 may be cited the great weight of the gravid uterus — from 112 to 180 

 pounds — its immense size, its convex, smooth, and slippery surface ; 

 the limited space there is in the abdominal cavity for manipulation ; 

 and the obstacles the other viscera otl'er to version manceuvres. 



" Nothing," says ^lazure, after repeatedly trying this method, 

 " appears more simple to the mind than to seize with the hand one of 

 the sides of the uterus, and to swing it round, and especially as it is 

 restoring the organ to its natural position. Yet no one whom I know 

 is competent to perform this simple movement." 



" My confrere and I tried to swing round the uterus," writes Gosselin, 

 " but it was in vain ; all our efforts could not even cause it to change 

 its place." 



Bouley attempted this method in 1853, but did not succeed. After 

 failing in other manceuvres to effect the detorsion of the uterus, in 

 despair he made a large incision in the right flank, in order to try if he 

 could not, by direct taxis on the organ itself, restore it to its ordinary 

 condition. But he was disappointed : for the uterus, enormously dis- 

 tended, so completely tilled the abdominal cavity that the hand could 

 scarcely be introduced between it and the walls of the abdomen ; while 

 the surface of the uterus was so smooth that the operator's fingers could 

 not cling to it. 



Notwithstanding, this operation — which, from having been performed 

 in the region of the flank, has received the designation of "laparotomy" 

 (from \a-dpa, flank or /o/;is, and TijLruv, to cut) — has been practised 

 with variable success in Germany by Fausel (1849),' Epple (1852), 

 Kohler (1853), Diccas (1867), Lechleuthner (1868), Obich (1869), 

 Heichlinger (1869), etc. ; in France by Darreau, Garreau, and others ; 

 in Italy by Santoni and Rocco ; and in Denmark by Stockfleth. 



We have said that the success attending laparotomy has been variable. 

 This is exemplified in Obich's experience.-' This veterinarian had three 



' It is worthy of note that the idea of resorting to laparotomy occurred t<j an excellent 

 veterinary practitioner in Scotland, perhaps lonir befort- it did to Fansel, though for lack 

 of Mpjxirtunity it waa not carried into effect. Mr. Cartwright, of Whitchurch, writing in 

 1s.jO, " On Torsion of the irterus in the Cow" ( I'f.lerinartHii, vol. xxiii., p. 248), and it» 

 treatment, and proposing to try rolling th> .ininial, adds : "HI did not succeed in this 

 way, I should proceed according to a suggestion given nie by Mr. .lohn Steel, of Biggar, 

 Lanarkshire — viz., to make an incision between the ilium and the ribs on the right side, 

 »nd try to untwist it (the uterus). If I succeeded, I shoidd sew up the wound and allow 

 the labour to take its natural course ; but if not, I am not aware that there is any other 

 means but that of performing the Ctesarian oj>»ration. Mr. Steel, .ilthough he ha.s not 

 yet h!»d an opportunity of testing its practicability, deserves the thanks of the profession 

 for such a suggestion, and it is one which I think verj- likely to succeed. At any rate, 

 if it does not, we can but perform the Cssarian operation." 



' Woe fume h rij't Jiir ThierhtUkunde, 1869. 



