292 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



anaesthetic by the aid of scalpel or scissors and forceps, a pair 

 of pressure forceps being of material assistance in gripping 

 the growth and the vagina itself being held open with a 

 speculum (see Fig. 182). 



A sharp curette (Fig. 40) ma}' afterwards be applied with 

 advantage. The haemorrhage is controlled as already de- 

 scribed (p. 52), and the A jUr -treatment consists in the 

 application of antiseptics. 



If the growth happens to be near the vulva, it can often be 

 permanently removed at one operation, but if higher up, and 

 involving the os uteri, it may be a matter of impossibility. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis of a complete and permanent 

 cure must be very guarded. ^ The author has known death 

 to ensue from inflammation of the bladder, owing to the 

 retention of urine consequent upon a swollen condition of 

 the mucous membrane around the urethral orifice. Septic 

 infection may also take place, organisms finding their way 

 up the urethra into the bladder, and so to the ureters and 

 kidneys, and after severe excision of a large area a stricture 

 may form, so constricting the vagina that the bitch is of no 

 value for breeding purposes (see p. 305). 



The return of the growth can be very much retarded if 

 oophorectomy (see p. 294) is performed in addition to the 

 curetting;^ these operations, however, should be done on 

 separate occasions. 



Benig-n Tumours of the Vagina. 



Fibromata are met with in this situation, and as they are 

 sometimes multiple and attain a very large size, they give 

 rise to serious inconvenience, and may even cause emacia- 

 tion and death. They are not contagious, but after a time 

 ulcerate, and cause an offensive, semi-purulent discharge. 



The Diagnosis can readily be made by a digital examina- 



^ These tumours have caused such serious losses among"st valuable 

 brood bitches that the British Bulldog Club have issued a circular to its 

 members warning them of its contagious character. 



^ Veterinary Record, vol. -\., p. 30. 



