304 



MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 



remarks, the manner of discovering to which side the gravid uterus has 

 inclined, has been one of the most debatable in the history of this accident, 

 and has occasioned much controversy and the most contradictory interpre- 

 tations ; up to the present time, in fact, the problem has not met with a 

 satisfactory solution. The confusion prevailing with regard to what 

 appears such a simple matter, is well exemplified in the discussion which 

 took place in i860, at a meeting of the Central Veterinary Medical 

 Society of Paris, at which the most opposite notions were promulgated. 

 And yet next to assuring one's self that torsion does exist, the ascertaining 

 of the direction it follows is of supreme importance, as on this alone 

 depends our being able to rectify the malposition of the organ without 

 delay. The disputation appears to have arisen solely from a confusion 

 of terms — from ne^ecting to define what was meant by torsion from left 

 to right, or right to left ; and Saint-Cyr praiseworthily endeavors, and 

 with success, to settle the question by repairing the omission. 



"When," he says, "in its revolution the left cornu of the uterus passes 

 above the right cornu, the upper face of the organ becomes successively 

 right lateral, then inferior, then left lateral and again superior — thus con- 

 stituting a complete revolution ; the torsion is then from left to right, or 

 simply right torsion." 



A B 



Fig. 70. 

 A, Cord Twisted to the Right ; B, Cord Twisted to the Left. 



The reverse movement constitutes torsion from right to left, or, better, 

 left torsion. 



In other words, the passing of the left cornu over the right produces 

 right torsion ; that of the right over the left cornu, left torsion. 



Hence we have the simple, and easily remembered and understood 

 terms, of right torsion and left torsion, which arc synonymous with torsion 

 from left to right and torsion from right to left. 



This being decided upon, the next question is how to distinguish, from 

 a purely objective point of view, a right from a left torsion ; and this also, 

 it appears, has been a source of difficulty and debate, from neglecting to 

 define terms. Saint-Cyr again has come to the rescue, and his efforts 

 to put the matter in a clear light must be looked upon as eminently 

 satisfactory. 



