DYSTOKIA BY DISPLACEMENT. 307 



should be made to satisfy one's self in this respect, as the " detorsion " 

 will be easy as the torsion is slight, and vice versd. 



It has been stated that it may exist as a quarter, half, three-quarter, or 

 a complete revolution ; and that it may even extend to a double, treble, 

 or quadruple twist. But it must be always doubtful whether we can 

 diagnose with certainty these different degrees of torsion which may be 

 met with in obstetrical practice. 



It is evident, however, that the greater the amount of torsion, so the 

 more will the vagina be constricted, and penetration by the hand ren- 

 dered difficult. We have already, in treating of the symptoms, drawn 

 attention to the condition of the vagina and cervix uteri in the more simple 

 cases. When, for instancy, the hand can be pas§ed without very much 

 trouble as far as the cervix, and the os can be penetrated to such a depth 

 that some parts of the foetus are felt, then it may be presumed that the 

 organ has only made about one-fourth of a revolution on itself. But if 

 the passage is more constricted, the spiral folds closer together, and the 

 cervix can be reached with much difficulty, perhaps only one or two 

 fingers entering the os, we may expect that the uterus has made a half 

 or three-quarter revolution. 



In a complete rotation of the organ, we may expect to find the vagina 

 completely occluded not far from the vulva, the fingers being only able to 

 pass into the funnel-shaped infundibuluni but a very short distance, and 

 cannot reach the cervix. The spiral folds will also be close and numer- 

 ous, and for this reason their direction will be all the more difficult to 

 ascertain 



Frognosis. 



With the Cow, torsion of the uterus must be looked upon as a serious 

 accident ; for except in a few exceptional cases, when assistance is not 

 rendered, the foetus and mother have always perished. Nevertheless, not- 

 withstanding its grave character, modern veterinary science does not 

 consider it beyond remedy ; and its records show that, by judicious inter- 

 vention, mother and offspring may often be saved. 



But in order to attain this happy result, a careful disignosis must not 

 only be made, and the direction and extent (if possible) of the torsioa 

 clearly ascertained, but the proper mode of restoring the uterus to its 

 'lormal position must also be observed and skilfully carried out> 



A cautious opinion must always be given, but its favorableness will of 



course depend upon the brief duration of the pafturient symptoms, the 



legree of torsion, the condition of the animal^ and whether it has been 



iubjected to unskilful manipulation before the veterinarian has beea 



tiled in. 



Pathological Anatomy^ 



When the animal has been subjected to manipulatory manoeuvres to 

 feet delivery, or when it has been permitted to live many hours after 

 signs of parturition have appeared, the first important alteration noted 

 m opening the abdomen is that due to peritonitis. There is a quantity 

 )f blood-tinted serum effused into the peritoneal sac, in which float shreds 

 )f fibrin ; and the lining membrane is reddened, deeply injected with 

 >lood in parts, and particularly those which have been in contact with 

 le uterus ; not unfrequently there . is a fibrinous exudate on its suface, 

 md this may cause adhesion between it and the different orgams. 



