) 



ANOMALIES IN GESTA TION. 173 



face gave exit to about fifteen litres of fluid. There was no foetus : the mucous was 

 separated from the muscular layer by the infiltrated connective tissue, and the knife 

 had opened four large kysts, the most voluminous of which was situated towards the 

 middle of the body of the organ, and was as large as the head of a child. All the 

 kysts contained an abundant serous fluid, and they all offered the same organization : 

 being formed by strong septa into several compartments, which were in reality so many 

 smaller kysts enclosed by a common envelop — the mucous membrane. On the upper 

 wall of the uterus were three more kysts, all resembling the others, though they were 

 less voluminous. The cotyledons were abnormally developed. 



This is a good example of uterine kysts producing the appearance of 

 pregnancy, and also offering an obstacle to parturition. 



In January, 1807, Rodet {Rectteil de Med. Veterinaire, 1824) was called to see a Mare 

 which was believed to be pregnant, and which appeared to be suffering from tedious 

 labor ; and the symptoms — among which were those of violent colic, and energetic 

 expulsive efforts — might certainly have afforded good reason for the supposition. 

 Rodet's first attempts to relieve the Mare having proved unsuccessful, in three hours he 

 made an exploration per rectum, and discovered'that the uterus was as largely developed 

 as at the full period of gestation, though its contents did not feel like an ordinary foetus. 

 Making a vaginal exploration, he was astonished to find, instead of an unformed foetus 

 or mole, several somewhat large excrescences moving about in the uterus, the interior of 

 which they appeared to fill. Thinking that these were true polypi with a wide base, 

 and covered and maintained by the mucous membrane, he submitted the animal to medi- 

 cal treatment. This was attended with good results ; the animal recovered, and during 

 the three months it was under observation there was no relapse ; after that period it 

 was lost sight of. 



Hydatid kysts have been mentioned as occurring in the domesticated 

 animals, and simulating pregnancy ; but the authorities who allude to 

 these instances have not offered any details. They appear to be related 

 to conception and pregnancy, and in some instances they may be a de- 

 formed embryo. 



The Veterinarian (vol. xx., p. 187) gives an interesting account of an 

 immense tumor in the uterus which, in the living animal, led to the belief 

 that the Mare was in foal. 



Hydrops Uteri or Hydwmeira, 



Hydrops uteri, as the designation implies, is a collection of fluid in the 

 uterus ; though it may not be of a serous character in every case, but 

 may sometimes be purulent. There are many instances of this condition 

 recorded in British and foreign veterinary literature, as occurring in the 

 Mare and Cow — the animals which most frequently receive attention, 

 though the Sheep and Bitch sometimes suffer from this disease. This 

 condition appears to be related to gestation ; it is allied to mole 

 pregnancy, and sometimes closely simulates real pregnancy. It may also 

 be due to injury to the uterus. 



Rainard says: "When this collection is forming, the abdomen 

 gradually enlarges as in ordinary gestation ; the animal looks healthy, 

 and there is scarcely any difference between this state and that of 

 pregnancy before the second-third, or even the second-half of gestation. 

 It is rare that these collections persist more than five or six months 

 without being evacuated at least once, and it is usual to see this evacua- 

 tion take place every month, or at least every two months. The fluid is 

 greyish-colored, and it is often as much as an ordinary bucketful." 



Saint-Cyr, in alluding to the cases recorded since Rainard v/rote these 

 lines, remarks that it is usually after a copulation which is supposed to 



