Tumors of the Uterus, Vulva, etc. 251 



been taken, perforation is important only because of possible 

 prolapse of the intestines or other viscera. The prolapse may 

 be prevented by appropriate sutures. Where the possibility is. 

 foreseen, the tumor, with a section of the vaginal wall, may be 

 removed by ligature. 



Retention cysts of the genital passage may be laid open freely 

 with the scalpel, under strict asepsis. 



Diseases of the broad ligaments are rare. Yet, they occur 

 with sufficient frequency to merit attention. So far as we are 

 aware, they occur chiefly in the cow. 



Various writers refer to tubercular deposits in the broad liga- 

 ment, which cause them to become thickened and, upon palpa- 

 tion, to give the ordinary characteristics of tubercular invasion. 

 In addition, there are also symptoms of the disease in other parts 

 of the body. 



In one very interesting case of sterility, in a highly valuable 

 pedigreed Holstein cow which we attended, it was found that 

 the broad ligaments were the seat of eight or ten large abscesses 

 with very dense capsules. The uterus and broad ligaments were 

 adherent, over a large part of their surface, to the rectum and 

 surrounding organs, and the ligament was invaded by multiple 

 abscesses containing from two to five or six ounces of pus each. 

 The contents of the abscesses were of a yellowish, granular 

 character, which seemed strongly suggestive of actinomycosis. 

 This impression was fully verified by microscopic examination. 

 Although a careful search was made, no signs of actinomycosis 

 were found elsewhere within the body. The case suggests that 

 the infection probably occurred through the medium of copula- 

 tion. 



Tuberculosis of the uterus has been alleged to be a frequent 

 cause of sterility, but we have few data in support of the pre- 

 sumption. Angst' records that, out of 34 sterile cows, 31 were 

 affected with uterine tuberculosis ! 



Actinomycosis and tuberculosis of the uterine ligaments or 

 walls, are usually not subject to remedy. I^imited actinomy- 

 cosis might possibly be relieved by the internal administration of 

 potassium iodide. 



1 Deutsche Tierartzlichen Wochensclirift,i8 



