INVERSION OF THE UTERUS. 
777 
INVERSION OF THE UTERUS. 
By E. S. Fry, M.D.C., Assistant State Veterinarian, Naperville, III. 
A Paper read before the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, Nov. 19, 1896. 
This disease or accident, as I may term it, is liable to occur 
in all domesticated animals, and has been observed in animals 
kept in houses and stables, as well as in those roaming about at 
liberty, although history will give us, and I find in my own ex¬ 
perience, that ruminants are most liable to this accident, the 
cow coming first, then the sheep and goat; the mare is less fre¬ 
quently affected, and the sow and bitch perhaps not so often as 
the mare. This accident may take place in two forms, viz., 
partial or complete inversion of the uterus. In the partial or 
incomplete inversion there may be nothing seen externally, for 
in this case the cornu or horn of the uterus is not involved, but 
even may be partially inverted, and an exploration with the 
hand alone reveals the existence of the accident. Or, if the ani¬ 
mal is lying, and especially if the floor is sloping backwards, the 
uterus appears as a round tumor between the labia of the vulva. 
In the complete form of inversion we have prolapsus of a por¬ 
tion of the vagina. This inversion is recognized also in two 
forms or degrees, according as there is inversion of the body of 
the uterus, or inversion of the cornu as well. If both cornua 
are completely inverted, they terminate interiorly in the form of 
a cone or pear shape, and if only one cornu is involved it will 
readily be recognized, which is then deviated to the right or left 
of the veitical direction of the body of the organ, according as it 
is one or the other of these parts. 
Cateses .—The causes of this disease or accident are not well 
understood ; hence it is difficult for me to ascertain what this 
cause is or may be ; but in order that this inversion can take 
place it is essential that the os uteri be more or less dilated. 
Consequently the accident is only observed in breeding animals, 
and either during or soon after parturition. Steel claims that it 
results from excessive spasmodic contractions of the uterine 
walls, non-contractions of the os uteri post partum , or adhesions 
