ISO 



OBSTETRICAL PHYSIOLOGY. 



gives an instance in which a Bull — a twin — was put to a hundred cows, 

 none of which produced a calf. In Switzerland it is the belief, that when 

 the cow-calf is born first, it will not be sterile ; and that when, on the 

 contrary, the male is born before the female, it will be unproductive. The 

 female twin is generally a hermaphrodite, and in form more of a male 

 than a female ; the vulva is excessively contracted, and the vagina a ciil- 

 de-sac. The mammae are also feebly developed, sometimes appearing as 

 a mere trifling fold of skin, at others as a voluminous sack. The animal 

 is usually long-legged, with muscular hind-quarters. Internally, in some 

 instances the uterus is undeveloped ; in others, the ovaries are absent, 

 and instead of them there are testicles. With others, again, there is no 

 trace of a uterus, the vagina ending in an infundibulum : a condition which 

 is readily ascertained in the living animal by introducing the finger. The 

 clitoris is sometimes enormously developed, and not unusually the urine 

 is expelled powerfully backwards. Ordinarily the " free-martin " does not 

 evince any sexual desire.* 



The rule does not always hold good, however, as to the infecundity of 

 this twin calf, as instances are on record in which it has bred. For in- 

 stance, in the Veterinaria?t (vol. ix., p. 22) there is an authenticated case 

 in which the female of a twin birth, when five months old, became preg- 

 nant, and in due course produced a calf. The next birth was twin 

 calves. 



Diagnosis of Multiple Pregnancy. 



The diagnosis of multiple pregnancy in animals ordinarily uniparous, is 

 not very certain. It is usual to say that the signs are only those indica- 

 tive of a single foetus, but exaggerated. The belly is more voluminous 

 than when there is but one, especially in the early months ; the respira- 

 tion is more than usually embarrassed ; the animal lies frequently, and 

 soon moves lazily and heavily, while the posterior limbs become oedema- 

 tous. These signs, it will be remarked, are obscure, as a large foal or 

 calf may occasion the disproportionate size of the abdomen and altera- 

 tion in breathing ; so that at best they only afford a vague presumption 

 as to the condition of the mother. It is also said that the belly is larger 

 on the side on which it is usually least enlarged — the left ; in others, both 

 sides are enlarged at the same time, and there the movements of the 

 young are most evident. But this sign, in addition to being far from 

 constant, depends upon the relative position of the progeny ; as when 

 there are two one may occupy the body, the other the cornu, of the uterus. 

 Neither does an examination per rectum or vaginum afford any certain 

 indication of a multiple gestation ; as the number of young, supposing 

 there are more than one, cannot be sufficiently distinguished. 



* One of the latest recorded examinations of these creatures is given in the CEsterreichische Viertel- 

 jahresschrift for 1875 (p. 78), and was brought to the notice of the Gresnter Land and Forest Society of 

 Austria, the veterinary surgeon to which furnished the anatomical details. The Society purchased the 

 calf three and a half years previously, and it had never exhibited any signs of sexual instinct during that 

 period. It was therefore killed. It was in good condition, and of the Miirzthaler breed. The head and 

 physiognomy had a most sins^ular appearance, resembling that of a monkey, though the horns were 

 strongly developed. The udder was little and hard, and the vulva small and contracted, although normal ; 

 en opening the labia, no trace of a clitoris could be found. The vagina was nine to ten centimetres in 

 length, and instead of extending forward to the cul-de-sac, which is often very dilated in Cows, it termi- 

 nated abruptly in a funnel-shaped aperture, and here the genital organs ended ; for the cervix uteri was 

 absent, as was the uterus and Fallopian tubes, and it vras only in the vicinity of the external angle of the 

 ilium that were found small ovaries closely and curiously enveloped in fat, so that they could scarcely be 

 recognized. The glands of Bartholin in the vagina were almost as large as an egg, and were full of blood ; 

 instead of the valve in the vieina there was a small impermeable opening. On incising the mammae the 

 gland substance was found to be absent, and in its stead was fibrous and adipose tissue. In fine, this twin 

 was destitute of uterus and oviducts, and the vagina was short and constricted. 



