DIFFICULT PARTURITION. 185 



swaying, unsteady gait, hanging head, paleness of the eyes and other 

 mucous membranes, and weak, small, failing pulse. The hand in- 

 troduced into the womb detects the presence of the blood partly 

 clotted. If the blood escapes by the vulva, the condition is evident. 

 Treatment consists in evacuating the womb of its blood clots, giv- 

 ing a large dose of powdered ergot of rye, and in the application of 

 cold water or ice to the loins and external generative organs. Besides 

 this, a sponge impregnated with a strong solution of alum, or, still 

 better, with tincture of muriate of iron, may be introduced into the 

 womb and squeezed so as to bring the liquid in contact with the 

 walls generally. 



EVERSION OF THE WOMB. 



If the womb fails to contract after difficult parturition, the after- 

 pains will sometimes lead to the fundus passing into the body of the 

 organ and passing through that and the vagina until the whole 

 inverted organ appears externally and hangs down on the thighs. 

 The result is rapid engorgement and swelling of the organ, impaction 

 of the rectum with feces, and distention of the bladder with urine, all 

 of which conditions seriously interfere with the return of the mass. 

 In returning the womb the standing is preferable to the recumbent 

 position, as the abdomen is more pendent and there is less obstruc- 

 tion to the return. It may, however, be necessary to put hobbles on 

 the hind limbs to prevent the mare from kicking. A clean sheet 

 should be held beneath the womb, and all filth, straw, and foreign 

 bodies washed from its surface. Then with a broad, elastic (india 

 rubber) band, or in default of that a long strip of calico 4 or 6 inches 

 wide, wind the womb as tightly as possible, beginning at its most 

 dependent part (the extremity of the horn). This serves two good 

 ends. It squeezes out into the general circulation the enormous mass 

 of blood which engorged and enlarged the organ, and it furnishes a 

 strong protective covering for the now delicate friable organ, through 

 which it may be safely manipulated without danger of laceration. 

 The next step may be the pressure on the general mass while those 

 portions next the vulva are gradually pushed in with the hands; or 

 the extreme lowest point (the end of the horn) may be turned within 

 itself and pushed forward into the vagina by the closed fist, the 

 return being assisted by manipulations by the other hand, and even 

 by those of assistants. By either mode the manipulations may be 

 made with almost perfect safety so long as the organ is closely 

 wrapped in the bandage. Once a portion has been introduced into 

 the vagina the rest will usually follow with increasing ease, and the 

 operation should' be completed with the hand and arm extended the 

 full length within the womb and moved from point to point so as to 

 straighten out all parts of the organ and insure that no portion still 

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