PEOLAPSUS OF THE UTERUS 317 



the hiiid parts raised, or in the dorsal position with the hind 

 parts elevated. 



Reposition is not attempted when the cow lies on the left 

 side, the cow being first rolled onto the right side. The 

 diagonal position of the rumen explains sufficiently why 

 reposition meets with great difiiculties, or is even impossible, 

 with the cow resting on the left side. 



4. Treatment of the prolapsed uterus previous to reposition. 

 Careful cleansing is indicated, best done with cold antiseptic 

 solution of lysol or creolin ; the cold at the same time stopping 

 hemorrhages. The use of warm milk or oil is absolutely 

 superfluous. 



Quite some patience is necessary to clean the uterus thor- 

 oughly and to remove all bits of straw, etc., in the folds. 



Small wounds are stitched with strong thread, the stitches 

 going through the mucosa and muscularis. The edges of the 

 wound are bent so that the edges of the mucous membranes 

 project upward when the suture is completed. This assures 

 apposition of both serosse. Reposition must be done cau- 

 tiously. As soon as the uterus is replaced, it contracts, thus 

 rendering the wound smaller. 



The uterus is next placed into an alum bath — that is, 

 moistened for about ten minutes with a 2 or 3 per cent, alum 

 solution. For this purpose 200 g. of alumen are put into 10 1. 

 of water. This treatment, first introduced by Weidenkeller in 

 1852, has the following advantages : The alum has antiseptic 

 and astringent properties ; the mucosa becomes rough, so that 

 the surface of the prolapsed part is more readily grasped dur- 

 ing reposition; the alum solution also causes the uterus to 

 contract a little, thus diminishing it in size. The treatment 

 may also be executed by enveloping the prolapsed uterus with 

 cloths previously saturated in the alum solution. This alum 

 treatment is very useful indeed. 



After all preparations have been thus made, follows : 



5. Reposition. It endeavors to return the inverted organ 

 to the abdominal cavity. Many methods are employed, one 

 using this one, others another one. Success mainly depends 



