470 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



be complete or incomplete. In tlie latter case the cornua 

 are generally not involved, but even they may be par- 



FiG. 108.— Cotyledon of a cow's uterus. a a. Surface of foetal chorion. 

 b b. Blood-vessels of foetal chorion, c c. Surface of uterine mucous 

 membranes, dd. Blood-vessels of the same. f. Secretion from utricular 

 glands. (From Fleming's ' Veterinary Obstetrics.') 



tially inverted. The uterus with its mucous surface and 

 maternal cotyledons protrudes through the vulval opening 

 and hangs downwards for a distance varying with the 

 severity of the case. It generally becomes strangulated 

 by the action of the sphincter vulvae or the narrowness 

 of the passage, and thus tends to increase largely in size 

 in consequence of infiltration of serum into its substance 

 and accumulation of blood in its Vessels. It generally 

 is somewhat lacerated as a result of exposure to external 

 injury, and even tearing up by the patient ; sometimes 

 rupture of its walls has taken place. To allow the 

 inversion, the broad ligaments have generally become 

 lacerated and the vagina may be involved with the uterus. 

 The patient strains constantly, and thus tends to aggravate 

 the case. This accident occurs at or shortly after par- 

 turition and may result from excessive spasmodic con- 

 traction of the uterine walls, non-contraction of os uteri 

 post-partum, adhesion of the foetal membranes to the 

 walls of the uterus, and it is especially frequent in 

 animals in a state of debility. 



