PEOLAPSUS OF THE UTERUS 



321 



St. Cyr and Violet state that the pig's bladder for this 

 purpose was mentioned already in 1815 in the " Cours d'agri- 

 culture de I'abl^ Rozier, II. ieme edit. Paris, 1815, Tome I, 

 Article accouchement." Rainard reports that Greek veterin- 

 arians of the Eoman Empire (300) already used a pig's bladder 

 as a pessary for said purpose. 



It is also possible to prevent the inverted uterus from 

 passing into the vagina by tamponing the vagina. Already 

 Chaber (1795) and Leblanc (1826) described pessaries for that 

 purpose. 



Fig. 75. — Rainard's Tniss. 



Fig. 76.— Lund's Iron Truss. 



Also a stick with a knob, the latter enveloped with cloth, 

 may be used as a pessary. The knob is introduced as far as 

 the cervix, where it remains for sometime. The end projecting 

 from the vulva is fastened by means of two cords (one on each 

 side) to a surcingle. 



Pessaries may be dispensed with in our practice. In many 

 cases they are a disadvantage, causing violent straining, 

 metritis or injuries. 



Among the means employed to prevent the prolapsed 

 uterus from being expelled are : 1, suturing of the vulva (see 

 prolapsus vagina) ; 2, trusses. 



