MonniD ALTER ATIOXH IX THE GEXERATIVE ORGAXS. 347 



most expeditious, is not always the best ; as there may ensue internal 

 lucmorrliage, ^vhich will be all tlie more troublesome as htemostatic 

 agents are diOicult of application to the wound. 



The pedicle may certainly be ligatured, either in mass or partially, 

 previous to extirpation, in order to obviate the disadvantages attending 

 simple excision. This means has been successfully employed, and 

 though perhaps a longer and more difficult operation, it is to be preferred 

 when possible. 



Kemoval by means of the ocraseur is preferable to all others when 

 possible. It is no more difficult than simple excision, and so far as 

 htcmorrhage is concerned, it is as safe as the ligature, while the conse- 

 ([uences are much more trifling. 



When the base of the tumour is very small, and has but a slender 

 attachment to the textures from which it springs, and when, in addi- 

 tion, it is beyond the application of a ligature or the ucraseur, it may be 

 torn off or removed by the finger-nail. 



The most difficult tumours for treatment are those wliich are hard 

 :'.nd sessile, and to which the foregoing measures are not applicable. It 

 -sometimes happens, however, that these formations have only a very 

 loose connection with the subjacent tissues, and it is often possible to 

 remove them either wholly or in part, by making incisions through 

 them, and enucleating the divided portions by means of the fingers. 



It is rare that neoplasms developed in the labia of the vulva offer any 

 obstacle to birth ; should they chance to do so, however, it is easy to 

 remove them by means of the scalpel or bistoury. If the subsequent 

 (L'dema of the labia has not disappeared when parturition commences, 

 and if it hinders exploration by the hand, or the expulsion of thefcctus, 

 it may be combated ])y scarifications. These, however, should only be 

 Miade during parturition. 



There may occur cases, nevertheless, in which, either from the nature, 

 mode of attachment, or situation of these tumours, their removal is not 

 possible, and birth cannot be effected. In such cases it will be for the 

 obstetrist to decide whether he will have recourse to embryotomy or 

 Cffisarian section — this decision being arrived at after duly weighing all 

 the circumstances and facts relating to them. 



Having completed these general considerations on utero-vaginal 

 tumours as a cause of dystokia, and offered the above indications in the 

 way of treatment, we will now proceed to notice each class of these 

 formations, in so far as they have been recognised as obstacles to par- 

 turition in animals. 



CANCEROUS, CARCINOMATOUS, OR SARCOMATOUS TUMOURS. 



Cancer of the uterus and other organs of generation would appear to 

 be rare in animals, and very few veterinary writers allude to it. Even 

 those observations which have been published have but little interest 

 for the obstetrist, as nearly all of them have no relation to difficult 

 parturition. Some cases, however, have been recorded in which cancer 

 of the cervix uteri has produced contraction of the os, and necessitated 

 'perative interference in order to effect delivery ; and one or two instances 

 are noted in which cancerous tumours have elsewhere proved an obstacle 

 to parturition, and even when that act has been accomplished have 

 proved dangerous from the hccmorrhage they occasioned. 



When the cancer is situated at the cervix, and the os cannot be 



