REPORTS OF CASES. 
675 
appearance. As the rupture did not extend entirely through 
the fibres of the sphincter ani, it was decided to endeavor to 
close the laceration. 
The mare was placed upon a light diet for several days, the 
laceration was washed several times a day with a formalin solu¬ 
tion, lo per cent. At the end of this regime, the mare was 
placed upon the operating table and the field of operation again 
made aseptic ; the hands and instruments were washed thor¬ 
oughly in the same solution. On examination it was found 
that there was marked atrophy of the left posterior constrictor 
muscle of the vulva, which caused the lip of the vulva on that 
side to drop downward about one inch below its fellow. To 
remedy this defect, an incision was carried through the vulva 
of the left side between the mucous membrane of the vulva and 
the remnants of the atrophied constrictor, which allowed of the 
raising of the tissues remaining up to corresponding level with 
its fellow of the opposite side. The edges of the perineo-vaginal 
walls were now deeply pared, with a thin, straight-bladed bis¬ 
toury, taking care to remove all mucous membrane from be¬ 
tween the edges which it was desired to unite. After thorough 
paring of the edges, a strong curved needle, armed with a double 
silk ligature, was passed through each lip of the rent, about one 
inch back from the border of the torn edges, and firmly tied, 
after even apposition of the edges of the rent had been obtained. 
The sutures were inserted about one-half of an inch apart and 
five sutures were inserted. All blood clots were then washed 
away, both in the vulva and externally, and the parts were then 
sprayed with a 4 per cent, solution of formalin. 
The after treatment consisted of flushing out the vagina 
three times a day with a weak solution of formalin, then spray¬ 
ing the external wound with a 4 per cent, solution of the same 
drug. The diet consisted of a small amount of hay three times 
a day, with an allowance of bran at each meal. About one 
quart of clear water was injected into the rectum three times a 
day. On the eighth day the sutures were removed, beginning 
from below upwards; and upon manipulation it was found that 
the rent had firmly united. I report this case more especially 
for the benefit of the younger members of the profession, to 
show that partial or even completed rupture of the perinio-vaginal 
tissues may be successfully treated when strict antiseptic pre¬ 
cautions are observed in spite of the discouraging manner in 
which this lesion is treated of in our best works on veterinary 
surgery. 
