The Abdomen 275 



PROCIDENCE. 



Eversion of the uterus is rarely seen. It is sometimes con- 

 founded with estrual h3rpertrophy of the vaginal mucosa, polypus 

 and prolapse of the vagina. Its occasional occurrence is associated 

 with the whelping period. Recent writers describe the lesion as 

 being of a partial nature one of the cornua only taking part in the 

 protrusion. But that both cornua may participate I can assert from 

 a case in my own practice which is shown in the accompanying 

 illustration. The double lesion is also attested by the record of 

 Cros, a veterinarian at "Milan, in the year 1832. This practitioner- 

 was requested to treat a toy bull female, six years of age, which had 

 previously brought forth different litters of five and six puppies 

 without difficulty. On the occasion in question the uterus had be- 

 come completely everted and by pressure on the urethral orifice in- 

 terfered with urination. Three days after its first appearance the 

 organ was greatly tumefied and gangrenous. Recognizing the risk 

 involved in replacing tissues in such condition, Cros decided on 

 amputation. This was performed by application of a tight ligature 

 round the neck of the protrusion as far within the vagina as possible. 

 On the following day the ligature was further tightened to complete 

 the isolation and mortification. On the third day the protruding 

 portion was extirpated with bistoury with but slight hemorrhage. 

 The mass on examination was seen to include both right and left 

 cornua. The right horn which had carried the young of the last 

 litter was considerably longer than the left. The anterior extrem- 

 ities of both terminated obtusely from which Cros surmised that 

 they had been torn from their connections with the ovaries, the 

 latter organs remaining within the abdominal cavity. The opera- 

 tion was followed by complete recovery. Ridler and Hobday have 

 also witnessed and treated in like manner, but by immediate extir- 

 pation, a prolapse of both cornua. 



In one case, recorded by Leech, the everted organ contained 

 the bladder and portion of the intestine. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. At first a tumor appears protruding 

 from the external genitals. It soon becomes swollen and inflamed 

 and later ulcerates. Patches of gangrene develop. The animal 

 strains as if at micturition. The tumor must be carefully differen- 

 tiated from the not uncommon condition of protrusion of the vaginal 

 mucosa which occurs at the estrual period. 



