Diseases of the Female Generative Organs. 281 



They must, however, be recognized as one of the causes of 

 chronic irritation that contribute to prostatic inflammation and 

 hypertrophy. 



DISEASES OF THE FEMAI.E GENERATIVE ORGANS. 



MALPOSITION OF OVARY AND WOMB. HERNIA OF THE OVARIES. 



Inguinal or crural hernia of ovary or womb. Bitch. Long uterine horns, 

 loose broad ligaments ; Sow ; Ewe ; Cow. Other openings. Symptoms : not 

 marked : strangulation : inflammation : abscess. Gravid hernial uterus. 

 Treatment : reduction : surgical means : Caesarian section. 



The most common displacement of the ovary in the lower ani- 

 mals is through the inguinal or crural arch. It is most frequent 

 in the bitch doubtless for the reason that the horns of the womb 

 are long, and widely separated from each other, and in any case 

 of inguinal or crural hernia, or of undue dilatation of the openings 

 they are liable to pass through. A relaxation of the broad lig- 

 aments is another condition of such displacement. The laxity of 

 these Ugaments in the normal condition in the sow favors ovarian 

 hernia, and Dupont found the ovaries in the perineal region in 

 five sows examined. I^aux found the condition in ewes, and 

 Miiller in cows, one ovary lying on each side of the mammae. 

 With relaxation of the uterine ligaments the hernia might occur 

 in any female mammal, and not only through the orifices named, 

 but through any normal or adventitious opening in the abdominal 

 walls. 



Symptoms. In the bitch the hernia is often overlooked although 

 an examination of the inguinal region will reveal the presence of a 

 small nodule and vermiform body which may usually be returned 

 into the abdominal cavity. In some cases it becomes strangulated 

 by the gradual contraction of the neck of the hernial sac, followed 

 by swelling, heat and tenderness of the hernial mass, which may 

 go on to abscess formation. In exceptional cases impregnation 

 occurs with the womb in this position and the steady nodular in- 

 crease of the mass, and finally the automatic movements of the 

 contained fcetuses become very characteristic. 



Treatment consists in passing the womb and ovary back into 

 the abdomen, and if adherent or incarcerated, in exposing and 



