284 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



appearing at the entrance of the vagina or between the lips of the 

 vulva. Micturition is suppressed or but a small quantity of urine 

 escapes at a time. An exact diagnosis can be made by puncture 

 with an aspirator. 



Treatment. The abdominal cavity should be promptly opened 

 and displaced organs returned to their normal position. In view 

 of the great risk of peritonitis supervening it is advisable to secure 

 ample drainage with strands of gauze or tubes inserted in the wound. 



NEOPLASMS. 



The growths most commonly met with in the vagina are inno- 

 cent in character. They occur as fibromata either pure or mixed 

 with myxomatous, myomatous, or lipomatous elements, and as 

 hypertrophy of the mucosa. Adenomata have also been observed. 

 Malignant growths occur with comparative rarity. They have been 

 observed as transformed sarcomata and as contagious venereal 

 granulomata which have been variously described as carcinoma, 

 sarcoma, etc. (See Chapter on Neoplasms). 



Fibromata. These occur in the form of polypi or as an en- 

 largement of the Cervix and in their gross appearance closely re- 

 semble the hypertrophic enlargement peculiar to the estrual period 

 and for which they are often mistaken. It is said of the myxo- 

 matous growths that they may remain quiescent for a long period, 

 but may finally assume a true sarcomatous character and at the same 

 time invade the deeper layers of the vaginal wall. The purer fibro- 

 mata are firm in consistence and insensitive, and have an intact 

 surface, though the latter may become ulcerated by contact with 

 the ground when the tumor is so large that it protrudes through the 

 vulva. These tumors are apt to interfere with free coition and fetal 

 delivery. 



Treatment. Extirpation is indicated. Operative technic is the 

 same as for removal of the hypertrophic enlargement peculiar to 

 the estrual period. In the case figured in the accompanying illus- 

 tration which was operated on at the Johns Hopkins Laboratory the 

 tumor was enucleated through a median external incision, which 

 was made to extend from near the tip of the vulva to the mid-hy- 

 pogastric region. Mueller treated a fibro-myoma by daily hypo- 

 dermic injections of ergotin. In one month the growth was con- 



