Examination of the Cervical Canal 109 



out, which dilutes the Lugol's solution. Rapid absorption may- 

 follow and iodism result. The distress from the introduc- 

 tion of Lugol's solution into the peritoneal cavity is of short 

 duration and within one-half to two hours she seems as well 

 as before. The uterine wound heals promptly and little or 

 no harm follows. When coal tar disinfectants and others of 

 a highly irritant character, especially those not freely solu- 

 ble in the lymph, are introduced, the irritation is more se- 

 vere and prolonged, with great danger of a severe peritoni- 

 tis with serious peril to life. If death is avoided, the peri- 

 tonitis may lead to extensive adhesions destroying the value 

 of the patient. Some veterinarians have counseled the use 

 of bicarbonate or chloride of sodium solution as a douche, 

 but if this or other neutral fluid is used and a puncture of 

 the uterus occurs with the fluids entering the peritoneal 

 cavity, the danger is extreme because usually infection is 

 borne from the uterus and sets up a violent and fatal peri- 

 tonitis. In Fig. 43, is shown a uterus punctured by pushing 

 a catheter much too far, a fatal peritonitis following douch- 

 ing with, it was claimed, soda bicarbonate solution. Whether 

 the infection was due to a dirty catheter, whether it bore 

 infection from the cervix or uterus into the peritoneal cav- 

 ity, or whether the soda solution itself was septic, does not 

 materially alter the case. No antiseptic was present to de- 

 stroy the infection. 



When pus is present in the uterus in large quantities and 

 of high virulence, as is most frequently seen in the puerperal 

 animal, a gross rupture of the organ is followed at once by 

 very alarming symptoms which frequently prove fatal 

 within two or three hours. The shock is especially pro- 

 found when it is attempted to douche a large paretic uterus 

 containing a great volume of virulent material and a great 

 amount of water is introduced to add to the mass of liquid. 

 A large rupture of the uterus releasing the great mass of 

 infected liquid, which immediately reaches the total peri- 

 toneal surface, produces prompt collapse. The abdominal 

 walls at once become tense and fixed, the breathing being 

 thoracic, rapid and shallow. The patient appears tympani- 



