434 
PROLAPSE OF THE UTERUS. 
by previously giving a couple of ounces of chloral dissolved in a pint 
of water. 
In order to ensure retention, some operators recommend keeping the 
arm for some time in the vagina, and only withdrawing it when straining 
stops. Others, thinking this encourages straining, replace the uterus, give 
an anodyne, and apply a vaginal clamp or truss. To entirely reduce the 
invagination of the uterine horns, which often keeps up straining, cows 
may be walked downhill. The animal is then placed with the hind parts 
higher than the fore; it is even better if it be kept standing, or be slowly 
moved. By introducing small pieces of ice or a little cold water, con¬ 
traction of the uterus is excited, and fresh prolapse prevented. The 
measures recommended in prolapse of the vagina may be tried; for 
example, the truss, the vaginal ring, and the suture, though they are 
seldom of much use. Complete reposition, and the return of the entire 
uterus and its horns to their proper position, is of much greater import¬ 
ance. Closure of the vulva is only of value in preventing injury to the 
prolapsed parts, and is most easily and securely effected by using 
West’s clamp or brass-wire sutures. A thin trochar can be passed from 
right to left through the lips of the vulva. After drawing back the 
stilette, a brass-wire suture, provided at one end with a leather button, 
is passed from left to right through the eanula, the canula removed, and 
a leather button adjusted on the other end of the wire to prevent its 
tearing out. Two or three sutures of this sort are sufficient. 
In cases where the violence of the expulsive efforts renders reduction 
very difficult some operators have had excellent results from slinging. 
The hocks are fastened together and the hind-quarters raised from the 
ground by means of a block and tackle until the animal rests on the 
sternum. In this nearly vertical position the prolapse is spontaneously 
reduced, and the animal is cautiously lowered until the hind-quarters rest 
on a bed of straw considerably higher than the surrounding parts. This 
manipulation can be repeated if necessary. 
When reposition is impossible, or the tissues of the prolapsed organ 
are much damaged, amputation is the only resort. In cows it is simple, 
and not particularly dangerous, but in no animal should it be attempted 
until all other means have been tried or at least considered. St. Cyr 
lost six animals of a total of twenty-five; Franck describes thirty cases 
of amputation, of which four (two cows and two goats) had to be 
slaughtered. Lanzillotti-Buonsanti has collected records of 140 cases. 
Of 86 cows, 77 recovered and 9 died ; of 8 mares, 6 recovered and 2 died: 
of 27 sows, 22 recovered and 5 died; of 9 bitches, all recovered ; of 
4 goats, all recovered; of 3 sheep, 2 recovered and 1 died; of 3 cats, 
all recovered. Nevertheless, these figures are not to be implicitly 
relied on. They truly represent the records, but successes are 
