DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 1 33 



The diet should consist of liquid, nourishing and mucilagin- 

 ous food. Small doses of iron are serviceable when the acute 

 symptoms have abated. fQuinine is also usefulTl 



INVERSION OF THE UTERUS. 



This is not of very frequent occurrence, and is usually met 

 with in bitches which have parturiated several times, and in 

 which the organ is loose and flabby and the os uteri relaxed. 

 It is usually connected with protracted parturition, where 

 undue force or assistance has been used, or there has been 

 violent straining. 



Symptoms. — Inversion of the uterus is denoted by the 

 protrusion of a round rough-surfaced body, which is easily 

 compressible ; the extent of the protrusion may be detected by 

 examining with the finger between the turpor and walls of 

 the vagina. If the inversion is protracted the organ becomes 

 discolored with a pus-like exudation on its exposed surface, 

 and emits an offensive odor. 



Treatment. — This consists in returning the uterus to its 

 proper situation, which should be done without delay, other- 

 wise its swollen and abnormal condition will render it next 

 to impossible. The operation is best effected by gentle pres- 

 sure on the centre of the fundus with a rod having the end 

 padded ; a little olive-oil or milk injected around and on the 

 organ will facilitate its return. 



The after-injection of a weak solution of alum or zinc, and 

 the administration of an opiate, will assist in the retention of 

 the organ. 



When, owing to protracted inversion, the uterus has be- 

 come enormously swollen, discolored and cold, and return is 

 impossible, excision will be necessary ; and this may be per- 

 formed either by a ligature round the neck of the organ, 

 gradually tightened every day, or direct removal with the 



