DYSTOKIA BY DISPLACEMENT. 31, 



as the animal had been tiimed out to pasture with several others, and nothing had been 

 observed amiss with it until the previous day Then it was observed to lie down and 

 get up frequently, and to stand with the back raised and the tail elevated ; straining 

 Very much in that attitude. 



Treatment. 



The successful treatment of torsion of the uterus had, to the great 

 majority — indeed, to all — of the veterinary obstetrists of not long ago, 

 evidently appeared hopeless ; consequently, the animal suffering from 

 this accident was either left to die without succor, or was consigned to 

 the butcher if its carcase could be utilized for food. In some few in- 

 stances, as we have seen, the animal has not succumbed, but recovered 

 from the effects of the torsion, and without reposition of the organ having 

 been effected. After fruitless efforts, the labor pains have subsided, the 

 foetus dies and becomes mummified ; the Cow is in an ailing condition, 

 perhaps, for some time, but rallies, and may even regain its former con- 

 dition, not unfrequently even yielding a certain quantity of milk. 



In other cases the Cow becomes emaciated and miserable looking, 

 gives no milk, and generally succumbs, after a variable period, to chronic 

 peritonitis. But in far more instances serious illness ensues at the very 

 commencement, and we have metritis and peritonitis, gangrene of the 

 uterus, putrefaction of the foetus, septikaemia, paraplegia, or other grave 

 conditions which quickly terminate life. 



In British vetennary literature only two successful attempts have been 

 recorded, and these by Mr. Cartwright, of Whitchurch, one being so late 

 asa875. 



On the Continent, although many cures have been published, yet they 

 only date from a comparatively recent day. Nevertheless, according to 

 Rainard {Traite Coniplet de la Farturitioji., vol. i., p. 420), Vieillard long ago 

 (1823) succeeded in one instance in saving a Cow and calf, through hav- 

 ing recourse to vaginal hysterotomy. In this case there was inversion of 

 the uterus, the cervix of which was extruded beyond the vagina, and 

 fShowed three markedly-salient spiral rings. He experienced much diflfi- 

 [culty in making convenient openings ; the extensive incisions he was 

 compelled to make, in order to remove the foetus, became lacerations, 

 and there was serious haemorrhage. Yet the animal made a good recov- 

 ery. This formidable operation has not found an imitator, and does not 

 require one : except perhaps in a similar case, and in which there is 

 , aversion of the vagina, so that the parts to be incised are visible. 



The principal — indeed, the sole — indication for the relief of this accident 

 [is to untwist the uterus ; in doing this the cervix and os are restored to 

 Itheir normal condition, and the vagina rendered patent, while the uterus 

 itself assumes its ordinary relations. 



Various methods — all of which have been attended with more or less 

 juccess in practice — have been devised to accomplish this object. 



They are (i) Abdominal taxis; (2) Vaginal hysteroto7ny ; (3) Vaginal 

 taxis ; (4) Denoc's procedure; (5) Darreau's procedure ; (6) Rotation of the 

 yCoTv's body ; and (7) Gastro-hysterotomy, or Ccesarean section. 



I. Abdominal Taxis. — The idea of opening the abdomen, and thrust- 

 ping the hands and arms into its cavity, in order to search for the twisted 



iterus, then to untwist it directly by turnmg it on its axis in a contrary 

 ^direction to the torsion, in order to deliver the animal by th6 natural pas- 



>ages, is at first sight an eminently rational and practical procedure, and 



