The hand should be greased before introduction into the vagina. Emmet describes the method of reduction as follows: “My hand was passed into the vagina, and, with the fingers and thumb encircling the portion of the body close to the seat of inversion, the fundus was allowed to rest in the palm of the hand. This portion of the body was firmly grasped, pushed upward, and the fingers were then immediately separated to their utmost; at the same time the other hand was employed over the abdomen in the attempt to roll out the parts forming the ring, by sliding the abdominal parietes over its edge. This manœuver was repeated and continued. At length, as the diameter of the uterine cervix and os was increased by lateral dilatation with the outspread fingers, the long diameter of the body of the uterus became shortened, and the degree of inversion proportionally lessened. After the body had advanced well within the cervix, steady upward pressure upon the fundus was applied by the tips of all the fingers brought together.” The reduction may be aided by the use of White’s repositor (Fig. 140). This instrument consists of an india-rubber cup set on a curved iron staff which has at its other end a stout spiral spring. The cup is placed against the inverted fundus, and the spring against the body of the operator, who is thus enabled to maintain continuous pressure during the manipulations of his fingers. [Illustration: FIG. 141.--Emmet’s method of retaining partially reduced inversion.] Reduction of chronic inversion by manual methods is a long and exhausting process, requiring sometimes three or four hours for its accomplishment. It is advisable to have several assistants for mutual relief. It may be necessary to desist, and to repeat the operation when the condition of the patient permits it. In case the reduction can be but partially accomplished, or when, from any cause, the attempt at reduction has to be temporarily abandoned, the result of the work done may be preserved by a method of Emmet’s of temporarily closing the cervix by suture (Fig. 141). This procedure not only prevents the complete inversion from returning, but the traction produced by stretching the cervix over the fundus itself favors reduction. _Reduction by Continuous Elastic Pressure._--This method is employed after the manual method has failed, or it may be used primarily. As has been said, the gradual pressure of a colpeurynter has in several instances accomplished reduction. The most efficient instrument for maintaining continuous pressure consists of a wooden cup set on a stem that extends out of the vagina. Pressure is made by firm elastic bands attached to the stem; these bands pass, two in front and two behind, to a broad abdominal bandage. The elastic pressure is maintained for from one to three weeks.