Rupture of the Gravid Uterus. 447 



fetuses may find lodgement therein. When a ventral hernia 

 occurs during pregnancy, the parts should be immediately and 

 carefully supported by a wide bandage so as to prevent the ex- 

 tension of the newly-formed rupture. Females having congen- 

 ital hernia at the umbilicus or inguinal ring should not be bred 

 for zootechnic reasons, as well as because of the probability of 

 obstetric difiBculty. 



When such animals have been bred, however, and the question 

 of the preservation of the life of the mother or fetus arises, we 

 may bring about artificial abortion in behalf of the life of the 

 mother or may resort to hysterotomy with a view to saving the 

 life of the fetus and perchance of the mother also. 



Rupture of the Gravid Uterus. 



Rupture of the gravid uterus is not common in domestic 

 animals, though doubtless it occurs more frequently than re- 

 cognized. It may occur from a great variety of causes, may be 

 of any degree and accompanied or followed by various symptoms. 



On page 58 we have already alluded to the record of the rupture of the 

 non-gravid uterine cornu of a cow during coition. On page 260 we have 

 noted a case where a veterinarian, through error, ruptured the uterus 

 in attempting to dilate the cervical canal in a case of sterility. On page 

 424 we have mentioned the possibility of uterine rupture in dropsy of the 

 amnion. 



On page 417 we have alluded to those cases of rupture of the 

 gravid uterus in which the fetus has escaped more or less com- 

 pletelj-- from the uterine body without causing fatal lesions, the 

 fetus and its membranes not undergoing decomposition but re- 

 maining indefinitely as an inert body to constitute a form of 

 €xtra- uterine pregnancy. 



In a subsequent chapter, ' ' Torsion of the Uterus, ' ' we shall 

 have occasion to speak of a transverse rupture of the uterus or 

 ■vagina as a consequence of the revolving of the gravid organ 

 upon its long axis to such an extent as to cause its tissues to 

 part, leading to various complications of a very grave character. 



Rupture of the gravid uterus may occur as a result of emphy- 

 sema of the fetus, which will be considered later. 



When dealing with the subject of dystocia we shall have occa- 

 sion to discuss the not infrequent uterine ruptures due some- 

 times to mal-position of the fetus, far more frequently to errors 



