90 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



anterior segment of the rectum analward, force the air out 

 of the ballooned portion. Patience must be exercised until 

 the ballooning is completely overcome. It is useless to at- 

 tempt palpation while it exists, because the rectal walls are 

 so stretched, hard, and firm that reliable operation is simply 

 impossible. 



Tenesmus, or straining, also inhibits, so long as it lasts,' 

 any reliable palpation of the genital organs. It has already 

 been remarked that soapsuds, antiseptics, etc., must not be 

 introduced into the rectum on the hand, arm or otherwise, 

 since they may cause very annoying straining. It has also 

 been noted that if force has been used in dilating the vulvo- 

 vaginal tract of a heifer just prior to rectal exploration, the 

 pain already caused in the genital tract will result in vio- 

 lent, and frequently uncontrollable straining during rectal 

 palpation. These causes must be avoided. But when the 

 hand can be readily introduced into the vagina and the for- 

 ceps fixed in the cervix, any moderate traction exerted tends 

 to prevent rather than to cause straining. Gentleness and 

 patience are the chief factors in controlling straining. Dur- 

 ing straining the operator should always let his hand lie 

 perfectly passive in the rectum. He must not even use 

 force to retain a position already reached. If his fingers 

 are in a saccule of the rectum and he holds his hand rigidly 

 in position, the cow will rupture her rectum against his 

 finger tips. Even with the greatest gentleness and patience, 

 one sometimes encounters an animal which strains persist- 

 ently and violently. One cow strained constantly during 

 efforts at rectal palpation by my colleagues and myself, and 

 although repeated attempts were made at different times, 

 accurate palpation failed. Peri-anal injections of apoth- 

 esene and moderate chloral enemas both failed. Not only 

 accurate work, but the safety and life of the patient, are 

 dependent upon the gentleness and prudence of the operator. 



It is virtually impossible sometimes to avoid injuries suf- 

 ficient to cause hemorrhage from the rectal mucosa. In 

 small heifers the anal opening seems unduly constricted and 

 at some point the mucosa may tear and slight hemorrhage 



