Post- Ovulation Hemorrhage into the Follicular Crater 411 



death from hemorrhage would have been almost certain 

 and the over-rash operator would have received severe and 

 well merited censure. Unusual cysts or other enlargements 

 or lesions should always be handled with extreme caution, 

 and no irretraceable step made until a reliable diagnosis 

 has been reached. It is well in doubtful cases of cysts or 

 tumors always to palpate the ovarian artery carefully. It 

 may be enlarged, which clearly forbids any form of pro- 

 cedure inviting hemorrhage unless the operation provides 

 for absolute control of it. 



4. post-ovulation hemorrhage into the follicular 



Crater 



Immediately after ovulation there is physiologically a 

 slight hemorrhage into the crater of the ruptured ovisac, 

 to form a very small hematoma which occupies for a brief 

 time the center of the corpus luteum and then disappears, 

 as indicated in Fig. 26. 



Pathologically there occurs not infrequently an amount 

 of hemorrhage into the ovulations crater far in excess of 

 the physiologic volume. Clinically I have encountered ex- 

 tensive blood clots marking the site of the ci"ater, which are 

 readily detached so that they drop freely into the peritoneal 

 cavity. In one instance the hematoma was more than 3 

 inches in diameter. Presumably considerable blood had 

 escaped into the peritoneal cavity in addition to that which 

 remained attached to the ovary as a hematoma. The cause 

 is not definitely known. Apparently it is due to a disturb- 

 ance of the circulation dependent upon general atony of the 

 ovary. Just how serious it may prove at times is unknown. 

 Now and then a cow appears quite unwell at the close of her 

 estrual period. It is not improbable that hemorrhage from 

 the follicular crater may at times be responsible for the 

 symptoms. It is a well-known fact that in rare cases 

 severe and even fatal hemorrhage follows the dislodgment 

 of a corpus luteum. The two occurrences may be similar 

 in their fundamental character. The clot, which is fairly 

 firm, breaks up under digital compression with a charac- 

 teristic grating. 



