324 ON FLOODING AND INVERSION OF THE UTERUS* 
a plan which, fortunately, succeeded, and the poor animal ultimately 
did well. I particularly questioned Mr. Partridge as to the case 
having been one of inversion — turning inside out of the womb, or 
of prolapsus of the womb, or mere falling down of that organ, 
with the mouth of the womb in the most dependent part of the 
tumour. He has no doubt of the case having been one of complete 
inversion, and illustrated the case by comparing it to the finger of 
a glove turned completely inside out. 
In two or three other cases which have come under his observa- 
tion death has taken place from mortification of the protruded part. 
1. It will be interesting to know if the womb occasionally be- 
comes turned completely inside out in the lower animals; and if 
such accident at any time occurs spontaneously, and without the 
interference of attendants. 
2. If the accident is known to occur among cattle, is it accom- 
panied with flooding or not 1 
3. If the womb really becomes inverted — and I would have your 
readers bear in mind the difference between inversion and prolap' 
sion — and has been inverted for some time, is great difficulty ex- 
perienced in returning it ! 
4. Is there not great difficulty in keeping the womb in its natural 
situation after it has been returned, in consequence of the impossi- 
bility of preventing the strong bearing-down efforts on the part of 
the animal! 
5. Is the disease generally fatal, and do any cases of chronic 
inversion of the uterus occur in cattle ; or, in other w r ords, where 
the womb continues inverted (although, probably, considerably 
diminished in size, and, perhaps, giving rise to discharge of matter, 
&c.) for the remainder of life ! 
In conclusion, I must apologize for intruding at such length upon 
the pages of your valuable Journal. By inserting the communica- 
tions of some of your correspondents in answer to these queries 
you will, perhaps, be rendering no mean service to medical science ; 
and having frequently noticed in your pages much matter of con- 
siderable interest to the medical profession, I am inclined to think 
that you will not regard this demand made upon your readers 
as entirely worthless. 
I am, Sir, 
Your obedient Servant. 
[We should feel most thankful to any of our correspondents who 
would give us their opinion on this most interesting subject. — 
Edit.] 
