854 Veterinary Obstetrics 



controlled by the aid of cocaine, eucaine or other local anaes- 

 thetics. 



Where the irritation is acute and exceedingly difficult of con- 

 trol, we may secure excellent results by complete chloral narcosis, 

 extending over several hours. During this period of respite 

 from severe straining, the organ may resume its normal condition. 



12. ProIvApse of the Rectum. 



Prolapse of the rectum occurs rarely as a result of expulsive 

 efforts during or immediately after the act of parturition. In 

 the horse the anus becomes somewhat everted normally with 

 each defecation, but returns at once to its position when the act 

 has been completed. This peculiarity is regarded as a predis- 

 posing cause of prolapse. 



In dystokia in the mare, the rectum tends to become everted 

 on account of the violent expulsive efforts. In some cases, where 

 difficulty in parturition, has occurred and the animal is not con- 

 stantly attended, the eversion or prolapse of the rectum may 

 become very great, and seriously imperil the animal's existence. 



In one case occurring in our practice, a valuable mare, suffer- 

 ing from dystokia, was found with the rectum prolapsed to 

 the extent of 3 feet, involving about 6 feet of the organ. With 

 some difficulty it was replaced in position, and the extraction of 

 the foal accomplished without material delay or visible injury to 

 the rectum or genital organs, but the patient perished a few 

 hours later. Extreme prolapse of the rectum is sometimes 

 observed in the sow during parturition. 



During labor the obstetrist should take note of any threatened 

 eversion of the rectum, especially in the mare, and should take 

 all necessary precautions against its occurrence. This may 

 be best accomplished by having an assistant press upon the anus 

 with a towel or other cloth saturated with disinfectant. When 

 the organ has already become prolapsed, it .should be replaced as 

 promptly as possible, and retained in position. It should be care- 

 fully cleansed, but does not call for very thorough disinfection, 

 since it must again become infected as soon as feces pass 

 back into the portion which has been prolapsed. It should, how- 

 ever, be quite well cleansed, and preferably bathed in a normal 

 salt or soda solution, and then returned into its place, followed 



