TORSIOX OF THE UTEin'S. 841 



which the broad ligaments are attached to them, which renders rotation 

 of the organ very dilVicult, unless there is some anatomical anomaly in 

 the parts. 



The possibility of such an accident in this animal has been experi- 

 mentally demonstrated by Goubaux, in 1864, while instances of its 

 occurrence have been published by Tisserant^ in 181G, Belhomme- in 

 1850, Elson and Dehvart-' in 1852, Hamon^ in 18G0, Anderson-' in 1860, 

 Canu'' in 1861, Schmidt' in 1863, Gierer'^ in 1863, Jansen» in 186(5, 

 Coxi« in 1875 and 1877, Rollsi' in 1878, Deneubourg'- in 1880, Oreste'^ 

 in 1881, and Miinich^^ in 1892. There can scarcely be a doubt that it 

 is much more frequent than is suspected, through its not being recog- 

 nised, and Saiut-Cyr has given some instances which go to prove the 

 truth of this statement. 



Causes. 



The causes of uterine torsion in the Mare are not well ascertained. It 

 is not improbable that some of the causes which produce it in the Cow 

 will also be effective, in certain cii'cumstances, in the Mare. 



Wolff mentions that he has witnessed it in a Mare which had 

 suffered from attacks of colic four days previously, and when so affected 

 had thrown itself down and rolled violently. In Cox's case, a few weeks 

 before parturition the Mare had an attack of colic, and rolled over 

 several times. 



The accident has only been seen in Mares whose period of pregnancy 

 had nearly terminated. In Elsen's case the Mare had been ten months 

 pregnant ; in Ilamon's case the ordinary period had expired ; and the 

 Mare which was attended by Schmidt was within a few days of foaling. 



Sympto7ns. 



The general symptoms appear to be similar to those observed in the 

 Cow. In the majority of instances the animals appeared to be affected 

 with severe colic, and attempts at micturition were frequent. The local 

 symptoms, however, differ somewhat, the torsion being generally more 

 forward in the body of the uterus ; so that the spiral vaginal folds are 

 often not so distinct, and, from Goubaux's experiments, may even not 

 be felt at all. 



Rectal exploration is recommended by Saint-Cyr in these cases, the 

 torsion being felt as a thick, short and hard cord. Schmidt easily intro- 

 duced his hand into the rectum as far as the abdominal margin of the 

 pubis, and there he felt under his hand an obstacle which prevented 

 further progress, as only three fingers could be introduced beyond this. 

 The body under his hand was hard, resisting, and immovable ; whereas 

 the contents of the colon were soft and easily indented by the fingers. 



' Journal flfs Vehriiiairpn <lu Mi<li, 1846, pp. 337, 343. 

 - Proce^- Verbaiix de la Soc. l'tt<riji(i.ircj< de I' Yoinf, 1850. 

 ^ Annak'* <lc Mt'il. I'tft'rinairv dt Bruuelleit, 1852, p. 452. 



* Rfcueil de Mai. V.l.rinaire, 1860, p. 612. 



* Veterinarian, l><«iO, p. 317. 



" Rt-rutilde Med. Viiirinaire, 1861, p. 186, 



" Ibid., 1864, pp. 290, 714. 



" Magazin Von Gurlt uiul liertwuj, p. 322. 



» Ibid. 



'* Veterinary Journal, vol. i., p. 264 ; vol. iv., p. 28. 



" Ibid., vol. vii., p. 11. 



'- Traite Pratique d'tJbxtelrique V^t^rinaire. 



" Berue V^t'rinaire, 1881, p. 43. 



" Wochenschri/t/iir ThitrhtUkunde, 1892. 



