272 MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 



Denoc gives the following case of a Cow, which had been four days making fruitless 

 attempts at delivery [Recueil de Med. Veteriuaire, 1845, p. 9). The os was dilated and 

 the fcetus in a good position; the head and feet could be brought into the passage, but 

 the creature could not be extracted. In exploring the cavity, after pushing back the 

 foetus, it was discovered that there was liypertrophy of the symphysis pubis, and an ab- 

 normal rugged production thereon, forming a kind of ossified ridge which extended 

 beneath the bladder. Forceps proved useless, as this ossific deposit was an insurmount- 

 able obstacle ; so the animal was killed for food. On examining it afterwards, in addi- 

 tion to the bony alterations, there was a double twist of the uterus. 



Gelle has published a case in which the narrowness of the pelvis appears to have 

 been the sole cause of difficulty in parturition ; there did not seem to be any appreciable 

 deformity, and probably the youth of the animal — two years old, and a pri'mapara — and 

 a large calf, occasioned the non-delivery, as the fcetus was extracted by embryotomy. 

 The Cow did well afterwards. 



Another kind of deformity which has been described by several author- 

 ities, consists in a depression of the sacrum (lordosis), which is recognized 

 externally by an abrupt hollow existing towards the posterior third of the 

 croup. By rectal exploration, the sacrum is found to constitute a pro- 

 jection in the roof of the pelvis, at the lower face of the bone, and this 

 diminishes the supero-inferior diameter of the cavity to an extent corre- 

 sponding to the protuberance. 



Schaack gives an account of two cases of dystokia in Cows, arising from this defor- 

 mity. In one, the fcetus was of ordinary size and making a good anterior presentation, 

 but it was wedged between the floor of the pelvis and the exostosis above. It required 

 the united efforts of four men for half an hour to extract the calf, and at the moment 

 when the most voluminous part of its body was being dragged through the depressed 

 point of the sacrum, a noise was heard similar to that produced by breaking a bit of 

 dried wood. When the calf had been got through, it was then perceived, by the mobil- 

 ity of the end of the sacrum and the root of the tail, that the Cow had sustained a frac- 

 ture at this part. The Cow recovered, and was again sent to the bull at the ordinary 

 period. Wlien next it calved, Schaack had to assist it in a laborious parturition, but a 

 living calf was pro(Juced. In the second case the calf perished, and the Cow was sent 

 to the butcher. 



Canu {Recueil de Med. Veieritmire, 1837) reports that in May, 1831, he was sent for 

 to see a Mare which, for seven nr eight hours, had been vainly attempting to foal. The 

 fore limbs were properly presented, but when it was observed that the head did not fol- 

 low, those who had been endeavoring to assist the animal ceased to pull at them. 



The animal was seven years old ; it was continually straining, was covered with per- 

 spiration, and appeared to be much distressed. Canu introduced his arm, but could not 

 find the head of the foetus, as a hard round mass closed the pelvic inlet, and compelled 

 him to withdraw his hand. Shortly afterwards, however, he made another attempt, and 

 with more success. Having contrived to insert the whole of his arm in the direction of 

 the obstructing mass, he at length touched the tip of the ears of the foetus with the 

 extremity of his fingers. It was in vain, however, that he attempted to change the po- 

 sition of the head or to turn the neck in the slightest degree, as the fingers could not be 

 introduced between the latter and the shoulder. The owner was then informed that he 

 must not reckon upon the foal being extracted alive, and that the Mare itself was in im- 

 minent danger. 



Not seeing any way of saving the mother but by extracting the foal by force, the 

 owner's consent was obtained to this ; a cord was placed on the fore limbs that were 

 presented, and three assistants were posted at this, while two others, with a girth placed 

 between the thighs, held the Mare, which was in the recumbent position. The assist- 

 ants at the cord were then ordered to pull, and by exerting all their strength the foetus 

 was extracted dead, with the neck bent to one side on the ribs. All attempts to have 

 brought the head into the natural position must have proved unavailing, according to 

 Canu, as the right side of it, flattened, and even crushed, perfectly fitted a concavity in 

 the right flank. 



The vulva was a little torn at its upper part; it was much swollen, and its lining 

 membrane was extremely congested. 



The Mare lay during three days before attempting to get up ; but by appropriate 

 treatment it eventually recovered. 



It was subsequently ascertained that, although only seven years old, the animal's 



