INVERSION OF THE UTERUS IN A MARE. 
401 
length, in order to ascertain whether it was in its 
proper position, using a little force on the further 
end, in order to stretch it. I then withdrew the 
arm, and proceeded to apply the necessary ban- 
dages. 
First, a strong girth or surcingle was buckled 
tightly round the abdomen, to prevent the mus- 
cles acting with such force as again to expel the 
uterus. This is essentially necessary. I then 
took a small rope or narrow web (the one used 
on this occasion was a cavison for breaking 
horses in the lunge), from an eye on the middle 
to be passed over the neck, as if for casting. I 
then passed the ends between the fore legs, along 
the belly one on each side the udder, up between 
the hind legs, tying a single knot on the ropes, 
in order to come exactly to the inferior part of the 
vulva. Another was placed superior to the 
sphincter ani, carrying the ends up on each side 
the tail, forward along the spine, fixing tihem se- 
curely and tightly to the eye round the neck on 
each side the withers. The annexed sketch of 
the rope will better shew the plan. 
The superiority of this over the plan com- 
monly pursued, by passing sutures through the 
labia pudenda, will be at once apparent. The 
suture is cruel in practice, and disgusting in ap- 
pearance ; besides it does not, in bad cases, answer 
the intended purpose. 
I have seen many cases in which sutures had 
been used : they were torn out by the uterus 
being again protruded, making lacerated wounds, 
that on healing left, for the remainder of life, 
marks which too surely told what had been done 
at some former parturition ; and which also, 
perhaps, told one who would otherwise have been 
a purchaser, that there was risk in taking such 
an animal. 
The plan here pointed out has none of these 
bad effects. Once put in practice, its utility 
becomes immediately apparent. It can be ad- 
justed in a few minutes, and being once pro- 
perly fixed, any exertions to force the uterus 
out again are vain ; as the rope embraces the 
labia and sphincter so closely, that the more 
y 
Along the spine. Tail. Part that passes along the belly. Rye for neck. 
