438 
TUMOURS OF THE VAGINA AND UTERUS. 
larger species they can be discovered by rectal examination. Tuber¬ 
culosis sometimes produces great increase in size, either in one horn or 
in large tracts of the uterus. The Fallopian tubes then appear like hard 
cords as thick as a man’s finger, arranged in curves, and there is usually 
a muco-purulent vaginal discharge mixed with masses of firmer con¬ 
sistence and containing tubercle bacilli. 
Prognosis depends chiefly on whether the growth can be entirely 
removed. This is, of course, easier in vaginal than in uterine tumours. 
In pregnant animals uterine tumours become much more dangerous ; 
and those which produce severe straining, and thus favour prolapses, are 
particularly troublesome. Vascular tumours may cause death by bleeding. 
Fig. 179.—Expanding vaginal speculum (open). 
Treatment consists in operative removal. Pedunculated tumours can 
be ligatured, and multiple ligation is also the best method of dealing 
with partial prolapse of the vagina in bitches. Sessile tumours may be 
removed by enucleation. Tumours lying further forward may some¬ 
times be grasped with the ecraseur, cysts are burst by the pressure of 
the hand; if necessary, the operation can he repeated, and the base of 
the tumour cauterised. 
Cadiot and Dollar (p. 423, “ Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Surgery ”) 
describe a case of myxoma of the uterus in a bitch. The swelling projected 
slightly beyond the vulva, was ovoid, smooth, of fairly firm consistence, 
and reddish in colour. It measured 5 inches in length and 6 inches in 
circumference. Bemoval, by ligature, of the pedicle and section on the 
peripheral side was followed by recovery. 
Muller treated a bitch with fibromyoma, complicated with prolapse of the 
vagina, by injecting ergotin (extr. sec. corn. grs. vii., spirit, dil. et glycerin, 
a. m. Ixxv.) : of this fluid m. xv. were hypodermically injected at the most 
convenient spot. In four weeks the swelling had greatly diminished, and 
complete recovery finally occurred, but whether as a result of the injections 
is not altogether certain. 
