DYSTOKIA BY DISPLACEMENT. 321 



All the facts collected b}^ Saint-Cyr are unanimous in justifying the ac- 

 ceptance of the precept which he has formulated in the following brief 

 and distinct manner for application in these often-times difficult cases : 

 Torsion I0 the left — lay the animal on the left side. Torsion to the right — 

 lay the animal on the right side. Or the same precept might be formulated 

 in this way : In torsion from right to left, roll the Cow from left to right ; 

 and vice versA. 



Though this precept appears contradictory to what has been recom- 

 mended above — in order to reduce the torsion, make the body of the 

 animal execute an equal degree of movement, and in the same direction, 

 as that executed by the uterus ; yet the contradiction is only apparent, not 

 real. In fact, in this manoeuvre the movement of rotation does not really 

 commence at the moment when the Cow, lying on its side, is turned on 

 its back; but rather at the time when it is thrown on its side from the 

 standing posture. If it is thrown on the left side for a left torsion, 

 it really falls from right to left — or in the same sense as the uterine 

 twist. 



Since the publication of these valuable remarks, further confirmation 

 of their exactness has been afforded by various papers published in dif- 

 ferent veterinary periodicals. 



Of these we will only select two — the most recent and interesting. 



I. Coquet [Journal de Med. Veterinaire et de Zootechnie, 1876, p. 66) relates that on 

 May 21, 1875, he was sent for to see a Cow which for several days had been endeavoring 

 to calve. On arrival he found the animal, which was eight or nine years old, lying on 

 its left side in a sterno-costal attitude, the head bent on the neck and the muffle resting 

 on the litter. The pulse was small and quick — about 62 per minute — the ears were cold, 

 and the respiration plaintive. The Cow was not making any expulsive efforts; the 

 udder was flaccid, though somewhat voluminous ; the vulva was not si.uollen, and there 

 was no sign of secretion or discharge from it. The animal's condition was moderate. 

 The Cow had been purchased twenty days previously, apparently in good health ; 

 ' eight days afterwards symptoms of approaching parturition t)egan to show themselves. 

 ; On the 1 6th, expulsive efforts began to be made : the animal pawed, lay down and got 

 I up again several times, and appeared to be suffering from colic. In three or four hours 

 i these symptoms subsided, the Cow became quiet, and all seemed well again. During 

 i the following night there was some indication of colic, but less agitation than before, 

 and the next there appeared to be nothing whatever amiss. On the i8th, the animal 

 was dull, pawing, lying down first on one side, then on the other, making expulsive ef- 

 forts at times. 



The attendants kept looking out for the '" water-bag," but nothing whatever appeared 

 at the vulva. The Cow was still suffering on the 19th ; it remained lying the greater 

 part of the day and refused all food. On the 20th it was in the same condition, making 

 expulsive efforts every now and again. The prostration was great on the 21st, and there 

 were no labor pains ; the appetite was lost, and the moans were constant. 



On obtaining this information. Coquet proceeded to examine the genital organs. Oil- 

 I ing his right hand, he introduced it into the vagina, where he found numerous spiral 

 folds which converged towards the bottom of the passage, where they gathered so 

 closely that he could pass his fingers no farther forward. In following these folds, his 

 hand, introduced in a state of pronation^ rotated on the wrist ; so that the cubital border 

 which was at first to the right, became inferior, then internal, so as to bring the hand 

 into a state of supination, the elbow looking downwards. He therefore diagnosed torsion 

 of the uterus to the right, the torsion being complete ; for notwithstanding all his efforts 

 his hand could not reach the cervix. 



The prognosis was unfavorable, because of the long duration of the torsion, as well 

 as its extent. Nevertheless, it was determined to effect reposition of the uterus if pos- 

 sible ; and with that object five or six men were sent for, ropes were procured, and the 

 other articles necessary for such an operation were provided. A.n attempt was first 

 aiade to raise the Cow, but this was unsuccessful, and it remained lying on the left 

 ;ide. 



In this position-its legs were tied together by means of a rope, and an assistant having 

 3een placed at its head, the others were told off to roll it on the litter, turning it first on 



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