iNVERsmx OF Till-: iTi-:i:us. eos 



advantage in sending back into the circulation of the animal the larger 

 part, or even the whole of the blood contained in the or^'an, before 

 separating this from the body, and, in addition, perfonning a bloodless 

 operation. Coculet's method of reducing the volume of tlie inverted 

 uterus by compression, has been already alluded to, and is the same 

 in principle. Ksmarch's method essentially consists in winding around 

 the part to be amputated — commencing at the distal extremity — an 

 elastic band, so as to press the blood from this part into the body ; and 

 above the band to tie firmly a piece of india-rubber tubing, so as to 

 prevent a reflux of blood by the arteries. The elastic band is then re- 

 moved and the part — pale and bloodless — is excised. 



W'iien the uterus has been cut away, the portion of vagina or cei-vix 

 remaining should be returned as far as possible into the genital canal, 

 and if there is any hirmorrhage injections of cold water will probably 

 check it. Cicatrisation generally occurs within fourteen days. If 

 ablation of the uterus is not effected immediately after constriction of 

 the pedicle, but allowed to take place spontaneously, mortification and 

 sloughing are completed in from six to ten days. 



In some cases the animals do not appear to be much disturbed after 

 the operation, in others they are very uneasy. Ledru^ describes an 

 instance in which the Cow operated upon was for an hour as if mad. 

 It lay down, got up, rolled about, kicked and stamped, and climbed 

 into the manger. The eyes appeared to be starting from their orbits ; 

 it Hexed its hind-limbs like a horse attacked with paraplegia, and it 

 was impossible to get near it. These symptoms appear to have been 

 caused by the intense pain ; though they gradually subsided and the 

 animal ultimately recovered. 



In many instances no unusual symptoms have been observed, and the 

 mother has anxiously occupied itself witli its progeny. Tiiis has been 

 noticed with the Sow. 



After the operation the cows appear to have fatted well ; and when 

 killed, in those which were examined large masses of fat have been 

 found in the place of the uterus, and filling the pelvis. 



It may be remarked that in one case recorded — in the Cow — a portion 

 of intestine had become prolapsed witji the uterus, the interior of the 

 sack of which it occupied ; another similar occurrence was noticed in a 

 Bitch. Franck insists on this complication being always looked for in 

 the Mare, and he recommends that this animal be either narcotised 

 by morphia or chloroform, so as to get rid of the violent straining to 

 which it yields itself. 



An exploratory incision may then be made in the l)ody of the uterus, 

 and if any intestine is found in its interior, this must be returned to 

 the abdomen before amputation is ventured upon. 



CHAPTHli IV. 

 Inversion of the Vagina Inversio Vaginae. 



IsiBRStos, procidencc, prolapsus, or fall of the vagina, is a hernia of this 

 part through the vulvar opening, analogous to that of the uterus, and 

 with which it may be complicated when inversion of the latter is 



' JtectuU de Midtclne Vairinairt, 1866, p. 115. 



