NECESSARY AID IN NORMAL PARTURITION. 241 



It is observed, nevertheless, in emaciated, puny, and frequently old 

 animals, which are debilitated from lack of sufficient and good food, pro- 

 longed lactation, overwork, or worn by chronic wasting diseases. It may 

 also be due to congenitally feeble development of the uterine muscular 

 fibres, and to diminished contractility of these by over-distention of the 

 uterus during pregnancy, or by disease. 



The symptoms in the Mare and Cow are : comparatively shallow and 

 repeated inspirations, feeble and unfrequent straining, weak pulse, rest- 

 lessness and symptoms of suffering, extremely slow progress in birth, — 

 parturition in the Cow being extended to twenty-four, and even forty- 

 eight hour's, though the foetus may be in a good position, of ordinary size, 

 and the passage clear. If the hand is introduced into the vagina, it will 

 be discovered that the uterine contractions are weak. 



There is no urgent danger to the mother in this condition ; though the 

 life of the foetus is often imperilled, as the placenta may be detached 

 more or less from the uterus, and this may lead to fatal consequences. 



An examination is of course necessary, in order to ascertain whether 

 there is any obstacle to parturition. Should such not be found, then 

 stimulants may be given ; and such ecbolics as rue, saffron, savine, and 

 particularly ergot of rye, have been recommended by various writers. 

 These may be useful, but it will generally be found that, active interven- 

 tion is preferable, and more especially as there is little, if any thing, to 

 prevent the toetus being easily reached ; for should the os be insufficiently 

 dilated, it may readily be made wide enough for the hand to be passed 

 into the uterus. Moderate and judicious traction on the parts which pre- 

 sent, when the mother makes expulsive efforts, will bring the foetus into 

 the pelvic cavity, and through the vulva. 



Death of the Fcetus. — When parturition is retarded, it is often a 

 question whether the foetus is dead or alive, and to answer it correctly is 

 sometimes difficult. Auscultation in the larger animals cannot, as it may 

 in the human species, furnish any certain evidence in this respect. The 

 foetor of the liquor amnii has been held to prove the death of the fcetus ; 

 but though it is a good, yet it is not an infallible sign. When decompo- 

 sition has, however, well advanced, and the foetus is emphysematous and 

 its hair easily removed, then there can be no doubt as to its being dead. 

 The coldness of the parts external to the vulva of the mother, when well 

 marked, is also a sign of death. Of course, so long as the fcetus displays 

 active movements, it is alive ; but the absence of these is not an absolute 

 proof that it no longer lives ; for sometimes when it is partly in the pelvis 

 and the waters have escaped, so that the uterus encloses it firmly, though 

 still living it remains immovable, and cannot be stimulated to movement. 

 Should the presentation be anterior, then passing the fingers into its 

 mouth and titillating the tongue will prove a test of its vitality, as the 

 jaws and tongue are almost certain to move if it lives ; but the absence 

 of movement will not be infallible, though it will constitute very prob- 

 able, evidence of death. If the umbilical cord can be reached and seized 

 between the thumb and index finger, slight compression will discover 

 whether or not the arteries pulsate. The absence of pulsation affords a 

 strong, but not in every case a sure, presumption that the fcetus is dead. 



Gelle, many years ago, gave an empirical test which, he asserted, was 

 constantly successful ; though it is difficult to say why it should be. This 

 method consists in passing a blanket or sheet under the belly of the Cow, 



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