/.V/'A'A'.s/o.V OF THE ITERI'S. 599 



applied, there is little reason to apprehend a recurrence of the 

 accident. 



Aktku Tkeatment. — When the uterus has been returned to its 

 natural situation, an antiseptic injection or " swabbing " of the interior 

 should be carried out, and precautions against a recurrence of tlie 

 inversion adopted ; then little more remains to be done except to 

 observe some simple directions, which are to be followed for a few days 

 after reposition. 



If the weather is favourable, and little or no fever present, the animal 

 — covered with a rug — should be walked about for a few minutes ; as 

 this takes away its attention from the accident, regulates tiie general 

 circulation, and allays the expulsive efforts. 



The animal should stand with the hind parts well raised, and it 

 ought not to be allowed to lie down for a day or so. 



Great attention should be paid to the diet, particularly with Rumi- 

 nants, from their tendency to tympanitis and constipation. Indeed, 

 tympanitis may be sometimes considered a cause of inversion in the 

 Cow and Ewe ; and the rumen is at times so distended with gases, and 

 so proves such an obstacle to reduction, that it has to l)e punctured in 

 the usual way before reposition can be effected. For the same reason, 

 this inflation of the digestive organs has to be guarded against in the 

 after treatment. For the first day, only oatmeal gruel with barley- 

 water — both tepid — should be allowed in small but frequent quantities. 

 For some days, easily-digested sloppy food may be given, and if the 

 appetite is tickle it should be tempted by choice portions of diet; 

 though the quantity nmst not be large at any time until all danger is 

 past. 



If there is apprehension of inflammatory complications, such as 

 metritis or peritonitis, emollient poultices or a strong rubefacient may 

 be applied to the abdomen. It is advisable in all cases in which the 

 mucous membrane has been injured or exposed to the air for some 

 time, to inject some antiseptic fluid — such as boric acid solution — into 

 the uterine cavity for two or three days. 



Should tliere be a tendency to constipation, soap-and-water enemas 

 may be administered. 



Micturition is rarely deranged ; but if no urine is passed within 

 twenty-four hours after reposition, an examination should be made, 

 and the bladder emptied in the usual manner. The different disposition 

 of the urethral valve in the Mare and Cow will, of course, be borne in 

 mind in passing the catheter. 



Nearly always these simple measures suthce to restore the animal to 

 its usual condition in three or four days, in uncomplicated cases. In 

 exceptional instances, however, metritis, metro-peritonitis, or leucor- 

 rhcca will follow the accident. The animal may go off its milk and fall 

 into low condition, without exhibiting any acute symptoms ; or indica- 

 tions of puerperal fever may supervene. Sometimes the animal remains 

 sterile for a variable period. With the Ewe, chronic inversion of the 

 uterus often leads to loss of the wool. 



In complicated cases there may be wounds, lacerations, rupture of 

 the uterus, cornua, or vagina, lesions of neighbouring organs or textures, 

 etc. ; these will be referred to hereafter. 



A curious complication of uterine inversion has been mentioned by 

 Ayrault,' who witnessed it in three cases. This was great lameness 

 • RecutU de Midecxnt VcUrinaire, 1S57, p. 72.3. 



