IMPERFORATE VULVA AXD VAUIXA, 745 



Horses. An artificial opening may be made either in the perineal or 

 abdominal region ; but it is rare indeed that the animal is worth the 

 trouble and risk. 



In those female animals in which the rectum communicates with the 

 vagina, Rainard makes the following remarks with regard to operation. 

 As the part of the vagina which has the opening into the rectum is 

 never very deep, a half S-curved sound is introduced by one of its ends 

 into the normal track, and pushed into the rectum until it reaches the 

 cul-de-sac in it. With a bistoury, an incision is made where the anus 

 should be ; the skin and subcutaneous connective tissue being divided, 

 the index finger is passed into the wound in search of the curved sound 

 in tlie rectum. When met with, an assistant takes the sound, while 

 the blade of the bistoury is made to glide over the nail of the index 

 finger, and the intestine opened by it. The same finger is pushed into 

 this new opening, and serves to guide the bistoury in dilating the inci- 

 sion as much as may be deemed necessary. After the skin and connec- 

 tive tissue are incised, a trocar of suliicient size may be employed to 

 puncture the intestine. 



CHAPTER XVI r. 

 Imperforate Vulva and Vagina. 



Imperforatiox, atresia, or occlusion of the Vulva is not infrequently 

 observed in new-born animals, they being often found after birth 

 without any apparent opening into this passage, the labia of which 

 are adherent. The adhesion may be general or partial. In the 

 former case the urine cannot escape ; or it may be expelled through the 

 urachus by the umbilical opening. W^hen the retention is complete, 

 the bladder soon becomes distended and ruptures, and death (juickly 

 ensues. 



Complete occlusion is always a serious condition, as there is no 

 precise indication as to where the urethra opens, or even if it exists at 

 all ; so that it is scarcely possible to make an artificial opening for the 

 passage of the urine with perfect and permanent success. When the 

 labia are merely adherent, then there is no dilliculty, and not much 

 danger, in the case. The adhesion being destroyed and the labia freed, 

 the urine is no longer retained and the malformation is remedied. The 

 only precaution necessary is to prevent the labia again becoming united ; 

 this is easily effected by dressing the raw margins with oil or grease, 

 and, if need be, keeping them apart until healed. 



When occlusion is only partial, the interference of the operator may 

 or may not be deemed necessary, according to circumstances ; but it 

 will be generally most judicious to enlarge the opening to its natural 

 dimensions before the animal becomes full-grown. 



Imperforate Vagina is much less frequent than imperforate vulva. 

 Nevertheless, it is sometimes met with in new-born creatures. The 

 danger is the same as in the other malformation, as the external open- 

 ing of the urethra is situated below the pubic symphysis, immediately 

 anterior to the entrance to the vagina. Consequently, the urine may 

 be retained and the animal will soon perish from rupture of the bladder, 

 peritonitis, etc. 



All that can be done in such a state of affairs, is to compensate for 

 the absence of the natural canal by making an artificial opening, and 



