94 _ BOVINE OBSTEXBICS 



lu such cases the services of the veterinarian are mostly 

 wanted. On his arrival the inversion is often already several 

 days old, the mucosa swollen, at times torn and soiled byfsecal 

 matter. The animal at the same time shows but little disturb- 

 ance of its general health ; for this reason the owner waited so 

 long before he called the veterinarian. 



The patient feeds well, ruminates ; pulse, respiration and 

 temperature are normal ; but in receiving the history one is 

 informed that she defecates often, a little at a time, and that 

 micturition is difScult. The animal strains a good deal, accom- 

 panied by the passage of small amounts of urine. The hitter is 

 easily explained. The pressure exerted by the inverted vagina 

 upon the urethra interfers with the flow of urine. When such 

 a patient is examined by gliding the hand around the inverted 

 part, one notices that the hand cannot advance beyond the 

 upper commissure of the vulva, while it enters the inferior 

 commissure and may advance as far as the urethral opening. 

 Such an exploration usually causes the animal to strain. 



Differential Diagnosis.— When the symptoms given so far 

 are carefully considered, this trouble is not easily mistaken for 

 other disturbances. Nevertheless, it is possible to mistake 

 prolapsus vaginae for tumors of the vagina, retention cyst of 

 the vulvo-vaginal glands (glands of Bartholiue), with inversion 

 of the urinary bladder. 



Tumors are recognized by their greater consistency and 

 base, which can be felt. The retention cyst of the vulvo-vaginal 

 gland, which fluctuates, lies laterally on the floor of the vesti- 

 bule. Prolapsus of the urinary bladder (inversio vesicae) is 

 characterized by the regular dropping of urine, the finger 

 cannot detect the meatus urinarius, and the superior and 

 lateral walls of the vagina are in place. The diagnosis there- 

 fore is not difficult. 



Prognosis. — Prolapsus in the cow is not dangerous in itself, 

 provided it is properly treated. Even when the owner neglects 

 a complete inversion, quite some time must pass before the 

 animal is seriously influenced. Cases are known where a pro- 

 lapsus as large as a head, hanging from the vulva for three 



