426 
INVERSION OF THE BLADDER. 
the “ uterus,” or “ reed,” that it was the bladder which had be- 
come inverted, and which presented a very singular appearance, 
and could be plainly seen upon separating the lips of the labia, 
like a large circular map, occupying the cavity of the vagina. 
Upon bringing this viscus (that is the bladder) outside the external 
genitals, I was much struck with its appearance, being very much 
thickened in its coats, and extensive inflammation having de- 
stroyed the white appearance which the mucous coat in health 
possesses, being in several places discoloured, shewing evident 
signs of disorganization. Some little distance from the neck might 
be seen the termini of the ureters ; and every now and then the 
urine might be seen to be ejected from these orifices, and to 
trickle down the leg, which had caused slight excoriation. 
After some little consideration I determined to remove the bladder 
by ligatures, having tried to return it, but without success. Ac- 
quainting the owner with the great danger of the mare, and explain- 
ing to him the nature of the case, I proceeded to the operation, which 
consisted of grasping the tumour (that is the bladder), and care- 
fully passing a strong ligature around the neck, taking care to be 
behind the termination of the ducts which convey the urine from 
the kidneys to the bladder : this accomplished, the further treat- 
ment of the mare consisted in bleeding, physic, and sedative medi- 
cines, mashes, &c. The ligature was tightened every day, the ap- 
pearance of the viscus gradually altering, assuming now a dark pur- 
ple colour, shewing evident death of the part. Now the constitution 
of the mare began to be disturbed, the pulse and respiration became 
greatly accelerated, yet the appetite remained good. On the sixth 
day after the application of the ligature I removed the tumour 
with the knife, which weighed no less than seven pounds : after 
its removal the mare evinced not the slightest symptoms of pain, 
but the symptoms generally were such as to lead us to believe 
that mortification, or the last stage of inflammation, had set in; 
which was verified after the mare’s death, and took place three 
days after the bladder had been removed by the knife, or nine 
days from the application of the ligature. 
Post-mortem Examination . — On cutting into the abdominal ca- 
vity the following appearances were noticed : — The bowels, which 
are principally situated in the anterior part of that cavity, were 
but slightly discoloured, and those which immediately occupied 
the posterior part were implicated in the inflammatory action which 
had extended itself from the vagina along the course of the 
ureters, and at the commencement of these tubes from the kidneys 
could be seen a large deposition of serous fluid which had become 
coagulated or consolidated. The vagina had undergone great alter- 
ation, being^very much thickened in its coats, and discoloured; 
